Tyres

P.R.I REGULATION >> TYRES ELV BATTERIES ELECTRONIC WASTE

Tyres:

While waste tyres are not classified as hazardous (HAZMAT) they can cause environmental pollution if disposed of incorrectly or irresponsibly.  An estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste tyres are generated in Ireland each year and there is a clear need to improve the way this waste stream is managed. The problems are compounded by the absence of hard, reliable data on waste streams for tyres.  Considerable work has been undertaken, in conjunction with the tyre industry and other stakeholders, with a view to developing a voluntary industry initiative for waste tyres. The PRI review on tyres is currently being discussed by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG).

Waste Management Regulation 2007 (Tyres):

Following on discussions between the Department and relevant stakeholders, and a public consultation process, Regulations on the management of waste tyres came into force on 1 January 2008.  The Regulations seek to improve information gathering and the tracking of waste tyre flows in Ireland. As well as consultation with the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA), the Department has also had discussions with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

The tyre recovery scheme identifies a clear audit trail for tyre collection and recycling. It is an initiative that imposes additional responsibilities on stakeholders and requires their co-operation in ensuring the success of the scheme. The Regulations impose obligations on persons who supply tyres to the Irish market, whether as manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers, traders, or retailers and on the collectors of waste tyres.

These obligations include the submission of information as prescribed in the Regulations and in the format provided for in the guidance concerning S.I. No. 664 of 2007 by the 10th day of each quarterly period.  They will also be required to prepare and present waste management plans and reports when submitting applications for registration and submit a report to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) by the 28th February of each year.

These Regulations support the environmentally sound management of waste tyres by providing a regulatory framework for comparing quantities of waste tyres arising with the quantities placed on the market and in tracking the movement of waste tyres from the time they are discarded until they are either reused or processed for recycling and /or recovery.

Note: This is currently under review – 06/2015.

Tyre Recovery Activity Compliance Scheme (TRACS):
An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in TRACS the voluntary compliance scheme that has been developed by the tyre industry and which has been approved by the Minister following the making of the Regulations. *

* Currently under review -06/2015 with possible inclusion into the End of Life (ELV) Regulations.

Farmers:
Provision has been made in the Regulations to enable a farmer who requires waste tyres to anchor silage covering to store up to eight waste tyres for every square metre of the floor area of his or her silage pit, without the need to have a waste permit. 

An example of the quantities permitted is as follows:
Examples of waste tyres permitted to be stored to anchor silage covering

Floor Area Width(Metres)
10
10
10
12
12
12
Floor Area Lenght(Metres)
10
15
20
12
17
22
Floor Area(Square Metres)
100
150
200
144
204
264
No of Tyres Permitted
800
1,200
1,600
1,152
1,632
2,112