As part of the European Landfill Directive, adopted by the UK in July 1999, the disposal of tyres to landfill sites will be banned from 2003 and shredded tyres by 2006. As a result of this, the government has said that it will employ a system to make tyre manufacturers fund tyre recovery.
In a response to the DTI's discussion paper on a possible producer responsibility model for used tyres (see letsrecycle.com story), LARAC policy officer Andy Doran said: “Any proposed recovery targets should for the first few years of operation exceed 100% to ensure that existing stockpiles of used tyres are recovered and appropriately treated.”
Drawing on experience gained witnessing the effects of packaging waste producer responsibility at local authority level, Mr Doran advised the government to set up a system that would not be overly complicated. He said that the obligation should be placed at the point in the tyre life cycle that would be easiest to administer – placing the obligation on the manufacturers and importers.
Commenting two weeks before a report is expected from the DTI summing up all the responses they have had to the consultation paper, Mr Doran picked up on the primary interest of local authorities with respect to tyres: that any system shouldn't mean extra costs for council tax payers.
“Whatever the format for any scheme,” he said, “it should have no negative financial effects upon local government, nor distort the commercial market such that fly-tipping increases and/or local government is otherwise burdened with the social, economic and environmental consequences of dealing with used tyres.”
Subscribe for free