UK tire recyclers welcome tougher approach to waste-crime

The UK association also backed further proposals by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) for measures to reduce waste crime and poor performance at waste sites.

As of spring 2018, the EA will have the authority to lock the gates or block access to problem waste sites and force operators to clear all, not just the illegal, waste, noted a 15 Jan TRA release.

Defra has, meanwhile, launched a public consultation on proposals to make it harder to qualify for permits; require more waste operations to be registered; and provide local authorities with the option of issuing fines rather than having to pursue criminals through the courts.

The consultation also proposes improving awareness among householders of their duty of care when disposing of waste – a principle in-line with the TRA’s ‘kNOw Tyre Waste’ campaign.

“Not only that, waste crime also undermines operators who invest in achieving the correct permitted licences and abide by regulations,” commented Taylor.

The TRA, he said, “also hopes further essential measures will be implemented following the consultation, particularly to reduce the concerning number of sites exempt from waste regulations.”

The TRA has recently launched two initiatives relating to duty of care in waste disposal. Responsible Retailing was launched to educate retailers on the importance of ensuring their waste is handled by an authorised waste carrier.

The ‘kNOw Tyre Waste’ initiative in intended to assist retailers in explaining the need for tire recycling to consumers. It was designed to explain the different types of tire waste, the examples of applications and the useful statistics surrounding tire waste.