I signed the Waste Management (Tyres and Waste Tyres) Regulations 2017 on 14 September 2017.
These regulations enabled me to put in place a full compliance scheme for tyre operators, operated by Repak End of Life Tyres (ELT) with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited. Under the new regulations, all operators are obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the market. This will be the first time that there will be clarity in this regard. It is mandatory for anyone placing tyres on the market in Ireland to join the compliance scheme.
I am advised that the relevant local authority is aware of tyres having been dumped at the location referred to by the Deputy. The dumping is predominantly on Coillte owned lands. To date, Coillte has removed approximately 1100 tyres from their lands in addition to 200 removed by the County Council from commonage lands. The Council has been in contact with Coillte on measures both to curtail the dumping and to obtain evidence to enable those responsible be prosecuted.
The National Transfrontier Shipment Office (NTFS) liaise closely with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on a regular basis on all issues in relation to waste enforcement and in particular cross border movements. They meet with the NIEA once a quarter and also have monthly discussions to discuss issues of concern. Routine coordinated road checks are carried on both sides of the border on a regular basis. The NTFSO continuously monitor cross border activity from a waste enforcement perspective and work closely with border Local Authorities and the NIEA.
