TRACS welcomes Department recommendations on tyre industry review

TRACS has welcomed interim recommendations by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the tyre industry’s producer responsibility review which is currently underway.

The overall aim of the review is to ensure that Ireland will be able to successfully meet future domestic and EU environmental obligations relating to tyre waste.  The Department is examining the best options available to improve the current system and to improve the effectiveness of existing producer responsibility agreements.

TRACS welcomes the Department’s proposed recommendations such as;

Improving the overall regulatory system

Changing the scope of the current PRI to improve  environmentally sound management of tyres

Targeting enforcement action such as setting penalties at an appropriate level, improving the identification of non-compliant producers, easier enforcement of the 2007 regulations, storage guidance for used and waste tyres and removal of the EWC code relating to waste tyres from the collection permits of non-registered waste collectors.

Putting in place a national campaign to inform the tyre industry of its obligations and to promote better compliance with the 2007 Tyres and Waste Tyres Regulations.

Pursuing landowner responsibility wherever possible

Putting control systems in place to ensure that the end-of-life tyres from stockpiles are not funded as part of the retailer collection for end-of-life tyres.

According to Fiacra Quinn, director of TRACS, “Tyre industry best practice is moving ahead very quickly and these are exciting times for all involved.  TRACS recognises the great effort involved in undertaking this review and the time taken by the Department to allay the concerns of those involved in the tyre supply business in Ireland.  We look forward to the final outcome of the review and to working with the Department to achieve its objectives.”