Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2017
596. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the tyre industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6941/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) refers to tyres which have reached end of life and have been sent for recycling and recovery.
One of the major problems with the current system for tyres is that there is no data available regarding the overall amount of tyres placed on the market in Ireland and some of the tyre industry have been refusing to co-operate and provide such data.
I will shortly be introducing new regulations which will make it mandatory for tyre producers and retailers to be members of a compliance scheme. In addition, tyre producers will be obliged to register with, and provide information to, Producer Register Limited (PRL). PRL will ensure that all commercially sensitive information is protected by a 'black box' structure, as they currently do for the WEEE scheme. By introducing these new structures and making it mandatory to report tyres being placed on the market, there will be full traceability of the movement of tyres within the State for the first time.
In the absence of data in respect of the number of tyres coming onto the market being available, the tonnage of tyres coming off the market means very little. The amount of tyres visibly dumped around the countryside would suggest not all tyres are being managed correctly and convinces me of the need to introduce the new compliance scheme as soon as possible.
