Tyre Recycle Tasmania began the collection point after a decision by the Northern Midlands Council prevented the company from accepting tyres at its Longford site.

More than one million end-of-life tyres are estimated to be at TRT’s Woolmers Lane property.

The council’s decision, to approve a shredding facility but block the receipt of any tyres and require a $200,000 bond, is under appeal before Tasmania’a Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.

The new storage site, approved by the City of Launceston in February, has the capacity to store 1500 tonnes of used tyres - about 180,000 tyres.

The development application said no processing would occur in the area and a permit was only requested for a 12-month period.

“The application for temporary receipt and storage is to facilitate the continue collection of ELT until the processing plant application is finally determined and the plant constructed,” 6ty Ptd Ltd Urban Planner Heidi Goess said in a letter to the City of Launceston.

“The application seeks approval for continued storage of tyres until such a time as a shredder is constructed and the tyres can be processed.”

Mr Kelman said Tyre Recyclers Association believed if someone was allowed to stockpile tyres “they would never get removed unless the government pays for them to get removed”.

An application from ATRA to join the RMPAT appeal was denied in March.

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