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General News

8 February, 2024

Calls to discard tyres correctly

Environmental authorities are urging Victorian residents and businesses to discard used tyres properly, after more than 2700 car and truck tyres were dumped on public land in 2023. According to Parks Victoria, the Conservation Regulator and the...

By Maryborough Advertiser

Tyres can be disposed of at each of the transfer stations in the shire.
Tyres can be disposed of at each of the transfer stations in the shire.

Environmental authorities are urging Victorian residents and businesses to discard used tyres properly, after more than 2700 car and truck tyres were dumped on public land in 2023.

According to Parks Victoria, the Conservation Regulator and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), there were 60 instances of illegal discarding of tyres, with an estimation of around 100,000 tonnes of waste tyres generated each year.

Conservation Regulator director of regulatory operations David Mcllroy said the harmful chemicals and burnable rubber of old tyres cause major environmental risks.

“Illegally dumped rubber tyres can seriously risk the health of communities, environments, and native wildlife, and Victorian individuals and businesses need to clean up their act,” he said.

“Our state forests are not a rubbish tip, and anyone caught treating them like one will be penalised.”

Tyre Stewardship Australia, who aim to reduce illegal dumpings by creating a market for used tyres, estimate 1.8 million tyres were either illegally dumped, stockpiled, or put into landfill in Victoria in 2022-2023.

Senior manager enforcement and regulatory services for Parks Victoria Mark Breguet said these common reports take precious time away from rangers and volunteers.

“As well as being unsightly, illegally dumped tyres harm the environment and pose a serious health risk to park visitors and the environment,” he said.

“Removing tyres diverts our rangers’ time away from managing and improving the state’s parks and reserves.

“This impacts the maintenance of facilities and the implementation of conservation programs that protect native plants, animals, and historical and cultural sites.”

Tyres can be legally disposed of at the transfer stations at Bealiba, Carisbrook, Dunolly and Talbot for a less than $10 fee per car tyre and $41 per truck tyre.

All tyres are moved to a central reprocessing facility by contractors.

Recycled tyres have often been used to produce road surfacing and artificial playground turf.

For more information on the transfer stations in the shire, visit the Central Goldfields Shire Council website.

Under the Environmental Protection Act, Victorians can face maximum penalties ranging between $3846 and $230,772 for dumping litter or waste.

The public can report illegal dumping on public land to 136 186 or to EPA Victoria on 1300 372 842.

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