A TYRE-SHREDDING organisation has put a $1.8 million price tag on clearing an existing million-strong stockpile on the outskirts of Longford.
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TyreCycle is processing about 25per cent, or 3000 tonnes, of the 1.3million tyre stockpile and its chief executive Jim Fairweather said it was positioned to do more.
‘‘We are capable of processing the remainder of that [stockpile] in about four months,’’ Mr Fairweather said.
‘‘The only thing holding us back from that is key industries and the government to come to a suitable funding arrangement for that to happen.’’
He said they expected to complete their work by Christmas.
The stockpile is collecting all of the state’s used tyres – about 400,000 a year – and its owner has been told to cease collections by March next year.
Environment Minister Matthew Groom said he was working to establish a working group with representatives from Tyre Stewardship Australia, Australian Tyre Recyclers Association, the tyre industry, local government, the Environment Protection Authority and the state government.
The working group will address how the existing stockpile can be disposed of, how tyres can be managed into the future, and potential regulatory reform. A report is due back by mid-December.
Northern Midlands mayor David Downie said he was pleased to see progress on the stockpile, and a potential solution for addressing it, but that the management of future waste tyres was crucial.