Scrap Tire News

16 • STN June 2013 , Visit us on the Web: www.scraptirenews.com New Initiative Helps Retailers Manage Tire Disposal A new U.K. initiative designed specifically for retailers to help them manage their tire disposal in line with industry best practice guidelines and to assist them in promoting this best practice to motorists was officially launched at an event at the Ardencote Manor Hotel in Warwickshire last month. The Responsible Retailer Scheme introduced by the Lon- don-based Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), expands on a previously established voluntary program for tire recyclers. The industry has already developed robust and effective practices to handle the recovery and recycling of the 40 mil- lion used car and van tires generated annually, according to TRA's Mike Wilson. "Now we need to concentrate our efforts and encourage retailers to act responsibly as well," he said. Retailers signing up to the voluntary scheme will receive annual certification to demonstrate their commitment, educational materials for motorists about responsible tire disposal and other promotional materials such as an e- newsletter and video. A dedicated website has also been launched and includes a postcode-driven search feature to help retailers find a local collectors and a list of garages that have signed up to the initiative. Government-backed initiative provides tools to help ensure retailers comply with UK and European regulations on tire disposal. The initiative is supported by Motor Codes, a government- backed self regulating motor industry group, the Inde- pendent Garage Association customer assurance scheme, 'Trust My Garage', and the U.K. Environment Agency which helped develop the scheme. Business and energy minister Michael Fallon also welcomed the initiative, com- menting that it encourages greater business transparency and "strengthens the joint government and industry fight against illegal fly-tipping". Since 2006, under the Landfill Directive, it has been illegal to send waste tires to landfill. According to the TRA, the UK's voluntary recycling scheme manages to account for around 80 percent of used tires generated annually. These are used for applications such as new products or as an energy source, the association said. The Responsible Retailer scheme expands on the Tyre In- dustry Federation's Responsible Recycler Scheme, which was set up in 1999 to ensure that all used tires collected from designated premises are re-used or recycled in ways that comply with UK and European statutory regulations. The program also features facility audit checks and an ac- countability mechanism for tracking used tires processed by members. u U.K. Firm Fined For Piled-Up Tires An investigation launched by the U.K. Environment Agency discovered 380 tons of waste tires at Globe Recycling Services, Lancashire. Officials of the firm said they had a contract with firms in Hong Kong and Malaysia to export tire bales, but the collapse of the recycling market left them with no outlet for the tires. Company representatives admitted two offenses of contravening an environmental permit, relating to dates in April and June last year. Magistrates fined Globe £8,000 for the breaches and ordered the outfit to pay the £5,000 court costs of bringing the prosecu- tion. According to court proceedings, the in- quiry was part of an operation covering the suspected unlawful export of waste tires to certain countries. u