Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has tightened regulations to ensure the Victorian public is better protected from the risk of tyre fires from unsafe storage of waste tyres.
The Environment Protection (Scheduled Premises and Exemptions), (Industrial Waste Resource) and (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2015 will allow EPA to take action by enforcing stricter rules on how they are stored.
The regulations, which come into effect on 29th April, will require premises that store more than 40 tonnes or 5,000 waste tyres to obtain a works approval and licence from EPA.
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Acting CEO, Chris Webb said the new regulations would help to ensure tyres are stored in a safe manner.
“The number of used or waste tyres generated in Victoria each year is growing; approximately six million waste passenger car tyres were unaccounted for in Victoria in 2012-13, believed to be stockpiled or illegally dumped,” he said.
“These waste tyres can create environmental and public health risks for Victoria. Tyres inappropriately stored together in large volumes create a fire hazard.
“Once on fire, tyre stockpiles are difficult to extinguish and can cause significant environmental, social and economic costs.”
“The regulations will place EPA in a strong position to take action by enforcing stringent rules on how they are stored. We will be working closely with industry to ensure that they understand their requirements under these new regulations.”
The development of the new regulations was led by EPA, with support from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria’s fire services, and with input from industry associations and tyre recycling businesses.
To view the new regulations, please visit:
- http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/business-and-industry/guidelines/waste-guidance/storage-of-waste-tyres-in-victoria
- http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/setting-standards/waste-tyre-storage-ris