The European Landfill Directive, transposed into UK law last year, bans the disposal of whole tyres to landfill from July 2003 and shredded tyres from July 2006. The government has now issued a secondary consultation paper as the next step to fulfilling the Directive's demands. This consultation is calling for views of all interested parties, particularly in regard to:
- How the tyre industry might provide clear accountability for the recovery of all tyres;
- The introduction of statutory powers to ensure businesses report exactly how tyres are being recovered;
- Improving the representation, transparency and effectiveness of the Used Tyre Working Group;
- The benefits and possible structure of a centrally held database to help crack down on tyre fly-tipping;
- Possible interim targets for tyre recovery, for example 85% for 2004 and 92% for 2005.
Pressure
Despite pressure from the industry to set up legislation that would see all tyre producers paying equal amounts towards the tyre recovery needed, the government would still like to see a largely voluntary system. This is because it sees an improved version of the voluntary system already in place as providing flexibility in meeting the Directive's demands.
The Department of Trade and Industry has outlined the government's thoughts in a secondary consultation paper, on which it is seeking views from interested parties. In the paper, the government recognised concerns of those that had responded to its initial consultation proposing a producer responsibility for tyres (see letsrecycle.com story).
The call came from industry to inflict financial costs equally among businesses, rather than rely on the good will of those taking part in a voluntary scheme – good will that would count against volunteer companies in the competitive marketplace.
But in the paper, the DTI insisted: “The government continues to consider that the voluntary approach should represent the most efficient way of meeting the tyre landfill ban. It recognises, however, that the voluntary approach, together with the collective industry commitment that such an approach entails, may ultimately be a less attractive option to industry than a statutory approach with clearly defined and automatic responsibilities.”
Reporting
The government is now proposing a middle way on the issue that it hopes will provide the certainty of the statutory approach while keeping the flexibility of the voluntary approach. This would see the introduction of a statutory reporting system, in which companies would be obligated to report that tyres are recovered properly, but no system would fix in place how they would pay for tyre recovery.
The government said it would like to see a system of compliance in which businesses have incentives to improve their processes and efficiencies. There is also the concern among Whitehall officials that a statutory system spread equally among businesses would see costs passed on to the consumer.
Other measures within the consultation looked at the problem of fly-tipping, seeking views on the Environment Agency's role in such matters. It also asked whether a central database of fly-tipping black-spots might assist authorities in clamping down on fly-tipping.
Targets
The DTI proposed interim recovery targets as a safeguard measure as the UK approaches the 2006 ban on tyre disposal. It suggested 85% for 2004 and 92% for 2005, but stressed that these targets would only be a guide, not a necessity.
The paper explained: “While these would not be binding, these would represent logical steps towards the 100% recovery requirement. As such, missing the targets would trigger government to re-evaluate the then prevailing approach and consider whether further strengthening was necessary.”
The deadline for responding to the consultation is Friday June 6, 2003. To download an electronic copy of the full consultation document, click here. Paper copies of the document can be obtained by contacting:
Sonia Osbourne
Sustainable Development
Bay 426 Department of Trade and Industry
London
SW1W 9SS
Tel: 020 7215 5861
Email: sonia.osbourne@dti.gov.uk
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