The Leading Journal for the Tyre Recycling Sector

The Leading Journal for the Tyre Recycling Sector

Queensland Recycler Hit with Hefty Fine

A Queensland tyre recycling company has been fined tens of thousands of dollars for transporting used tyres to a site without the proper approvals.

Significant Fine After Detailed Investigation

The Richlands Magistrate Court was told that in March this year Tyrescrap Pty Ltd unloaded about 40,000 tyres at a Wacol facility, in south-west Brisbane, that did not have a proper development approval.

The court heard that the company knew that the transport was in breach of its environmental authority.

Tyrescrap Pty Ltd was charged with one count of wilfully contravening a condition of its environmental authority and one count of failing to provide prescribed information about the waste transport.

The company was fined $63,000 and ordered to pay more than $2,500 in legal and investigation costs.

The Tyremil sites in the Brisbane suburbs of Kingston and Rocklea are now under investigation by a special Queensland Government waste taskforce, with fears the stockpiles are a huge environmental and fire hazard.

“The previous LNP government de-regulated tyre storage, leading to a re-emergence of tyre stockpiling,” state Environment Minister Steven Miles said.

“De-regulation of this area can lead to situations where operators do not store or manage tyres responsibly. Stockpiling raises the risk of severe ‘oil fires’ which are incredibly damaging to the environment and human health.”

The Minister said the Government was investigating the re-introduction of regulatory requirements for tyre storage in a bid to reduce the risk of fires and poor management.