Halfords ‘deplores’ illegal tyre dumping

Following the broadcast of a Panorama programme on Monday evening, which questioned the way Halfords Autocentres’ staff communicated tyre disposal fees, the garage chain has released the full statement quoted in the documentary.

“Halfords deplores the practice of illegally dumping used tyres and we are absolutely not associated with the wider allegations made in the programme. All Halfords waste tyres are disposed of by a registered waste contractor. We make a small charge of £2 a tyre to customers and this is a true reflection of all the costs we incur during disposal.

“We reject Panorama’s allegations against Halfords. Our colleagues correctly stated that it is a legal requirement to dispose of tyres properly. We have apologised if we weren’t clear enough on the reasons for the disposal fee we charge. We will ensure customers receive a clear answer to this question in the future,” the statement reads, concluding: “We are focussed on helping motorists wherever we can and offering a quality service at more affordable prices.”

Interestingly the official statement, quoted in full above, seeks to draw a distinction between the company and illegal international tyre dumping also covered by the BBC. This part of the text wasn’t quoted during the documentary, but echoes observations made in this publication that unfair generalisations were made about the tyre industry.