The Environment Protection Authority has issued two infringement notices for the illegal disposal of tyres in as many months in Tasmania’s South.
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The offences involved tyres dumped on land at Lonnavale and Nugent.
In one case, a months-long investigation by EPA officials and Sustainable Timber Tasmania staff discovered 500 waste tyres on land managed by the group at McDougalls Road, Lonnavale, discarded by the Kingston-based Tazzy Tyres.
Tazzy Tyres was fined $3180 and made to dispose of the tyres “appropriately”.
In the second instance, used tyres – previously stored at Heaths Tyres in Sorell – were found illegal dumped into privately owned bushland at Nugent.
EPA director Wes Ford said used tyres were a controlled waste and it was an offence to dispose of them in a manner that they “could leak, spill or escape into the environment”.
“Waste tyres may harbour pests and vermin if stored or dumped in the open, and they can cause considerable environmental harm if burnt,” he said.
“Tyre fires not only destroy property but can emit large quantities of smoke harmful to human health, and runoff of water used for firefighting may pollute soil and waterbodies.
“It’s important that we uphold the law around waste tyre disposal to protect the environment and to support the growing recycling industry in Tasmania.”
Mr Ford encouraged people to report the illegal dumping of tyres, along with littering offences, via the EPA website.
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