Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2005
69 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take to prevent the practice of charging a €2 environmental levy on tyres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3992/05]
View answerSome tyre retailers are charging a management fee for the take back of waste tyres. I am concerned that the public may be given the wrong impression that such a fee is a Government levy and-or is contributing to a quality approved recycling scheme, whereas no evidence or assurance is being provided that tyres taken back are being treated in an environmentally sound manner.
I have requested all local authorities to arrange for inspections by authorised officers of all tyre outlets operating in their functional area as part of their action plans for 2005. Among the matters each inspection should establish is whether a tyre management fee is being charged, the level of fee applied and whether the fee is being termed an "environmental levy". I have also brought this matter to the attention of the Director of Consumer Affairs.
