CAUSEWAY Coast and Glens Borough Council is participating in a pilot amnesty scheme in a bid to reduce the illegal dumping of tyres for burning in Eleventh Night bonfires.
The council's environmental health service is working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to implement the scheme.
At a meeting of the council’s Environmental Services Committee last week, members were advised of the council’s involvement.
A report submitted to the committee explains: “The illegal dumping of tyres is a common problem across Northern Ireland and significant resources are utilised in collecting and legally disposing of them after they have been dumped.
“Tyres have also been an issue on traditional bonfires. In recent years, significant efforts have been to reduce the number of tyres on bonfires primarily through community engagement and encouragement and council facilitating the removal of tyres from sites with community consent.”
According to the report, there is “an indication that some illegally dumped tyres may originate from agricultural premises where they are traditionally used to weigh down silage covers”.
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The council was approached by NIEA to pilot a scheme where any agricultural premises wishing to dispose of old tyres can do so free of charge.
The pilot is operating in two ways.
Any agricultural premises with less than 50 old tyres for disposal can deposit them at the council’s civic amenity sites. In addition, there are four council sites which can receive tyres, in Limavady, Ballycastle, Coleraine and Ballymoney.
These tyres will then be collected and disposed of by NIEA free of charge.
Any agricultural premises with more than 50 tyres for disposal can contact NIEA who will arrange for free collection and disposal.
The initiative is set to operate until the end of July, when NIEA will provide data regarding the quantity of tyres disposed of.
