Know your responsibilities: managing waste tyres

Important information for tyre retailers and retreaders

• Keep accurate written records about your waste
• Don't risk heavy fines and clean-up costs
• Find out where your waste goes

Managing waste tyres

Tyres that are used, rejected or unwanted are classified as waste tyres and need to be managed responsibly. This includes shredded tyres or tyre pieces. Tyres that are retreaded, or intended to be used for retreading or recycling must also be managed as waste tyres.

Disposal of waste tyres to a lawful place

Section 143 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) requires that waste must be transported to a place that can lawfully accept it.

Did you know?

Tyre retailers, tyre retreaders and the waste tyre transporter can each be guilty of an offence when waste tyres are transported to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.

Regularly check that waste tyres from your business are taken to a lawful place.

Don't risk a $5,000 fine or prosecution - penalties are up to $5 million

Check where your waste is going

• Keep information about who transported your waste (see Keep written records)
• Retain records about where your waste is disposed or processed (such as dockets or receipts from the waste facility)
• Search the POEO Act public register to identify whether the waste facility has an environment protection licence under the POEO Act (if required) to accept waste tyres for storage, processing or disposal. The register is available at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/publicregister

Keep written records

Keep accurate written records to prove that your waste tyres were taken to a lawful place.

You should record and retain the following information:

1. Who transported your waste

• Company name
• ABN
• Vehicle registration
• Driver details
• Date and time of transport
• Quantity of tyres

2. The facility where your waste tyres are disposed or processed

• Name and address of the waste facility
• Address of the waste facility
• ABN
• Contact person (name and phone number)
• Environment protection licence number (if required)
• Details about the development consent (if required)

Keep written statements from your waste transporter and the waste facility (such as a letter identifying where your waste tyres are disposed or processed).

Regularly confirm, in writing, with the waste transporter where your waste tyres are being disposed.

Be warned. At any time you can be asked to supply information about the transport and disposal of your waste tyres.

Help and advice

If you suspect someone is illegally dumping tyres or taking them to place that cannot lawfully accept waste tyres, contact OEH's Environment Line on 131 555.

The NSW Fire Brigades Guidelines for Bulk Storage of Rubber Tyres has minimum requirements for the storage of rubber tyres, including those in open yard or within buildings and structures. See www.fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/files/pdf/guidelines/rubber_tyres.pdf

Tyres that are transported to interstate destinations are required to be tracked in accordance with laws in NSW. For further information call OEH on 131 555.

For any further information about how to manage waste tyres, either call OEH on 131 555 or your local council.