Please note, this information is a guide only and does not purport to provide, and should not be relied upon as a legal interpretation of the Regulations.
The information contained in this guide is intended to facilitate your understanding of the contents of the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007. However, the Regulations should be read in their entirety.
Background to Waste Tyres Legislation
There are approximately 3 million tyres placed on the Irish Market each year. An estimated 35,000 tonnes of waste tyres are generated in Ireland each year though data on this waste stream is deficient; hence the need to put in place a system for tracking waste tyre flows. Waste tyres are not in themselves a hazardous waste, but have the potential to cause environmental pollution if disposed of incorrectly.
The Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007 are designed to promote the environmentally sound management of waste tyres. They provide a regulatory framework for comparing quantities of waste tyres from the time they are discarded until they are either reused or processed for recycling and/or recovery. The Regulations came into effect on 1st January, 2008.
Obligations of the Regulations
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. An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in a voluntary compliance operated by an approved body.
Industry Compliance System
An exemption from these obligations is available to persons who participate in either of the following two compliance schemes which have been approved by the Minister following the making of the Regulations:
(1) TRACS
Tyre Recovery Activity Compliance Scheme Ltd
Unit 24 Guinness Enterprise Centre,
Taylor’s Lane,
Dublin 8
Tel: 01-4100 618 Fax: 01 4100996
Email: info@tracsireland.ie
(2) TWM
Tyre Waste Management Ltd
Duane House
Islanduane
Mungret
Co Limerick
Tel: 061 305889
Email: info@twm.ie
Registration with Dublin City Council
If you supply tyres to the Irish Market, whether you are a manufacturer, wholesaler, supplier, trader or retailer or are an authorised collector of waste tyres operating in the functional area of Dublin City Council and have not registered with either of the afore-mentioned approved appliance schemes, then you are obliged to register and thereafter re-register annually with Dublin City Council.
What is the role of Dublin City Council?
Dublin City Council is responsible for enforcing the legislation within its functional area and must ensure that every business is in full compliance. It should be noted that Dublin City Council Enforcement Staff regularly visit tyre manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, fitters and collectors premises to ensure that the Regulations are being complied with.
When disposing of waste tyres, you must always ensure you employ an authorised Waste Collection Permit holder and that they will bring the tyres to a licensed facility.
Where can I get further information?
You can also visit the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government’s website www.environ.ie which has a dedicated page on the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2007. You are advised to read the Regulations in full.