Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

42. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the tyre industry regarding the monopoly on collection and recycling and the issue of excessive costs. [13887/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am introducing a new compliance scheme that will effectively manage waste tyres in the Irish market and will reduce the stockpiles of waste tyres, which could have a detrimental effect on the environment and human health.

I am very aware of the concerns of the tyre industry regarding these new structures. I have met with the tyre representative bodies. I listened to their concerns and I have done my best to address as many of them as possible.

The scheme will be operated by Repak End of Life Tyres (ELT), with a registration and reporting role for the Producer Register Limited. It will carry out all regulatory functions on behalf of its members. It will be funded by a visible Environmental Management Charge (vEMC).  All operators will be obliged to provide data on the numbers of tyres coming on and off the market. This will be the first time that there will be clarity in this regard. It will be mandatory for anyone placing tyres on the market in Ireland to join the compliance scheme.

There is nothing unusual about the designation of a single compliance scheme for a particular waste stream.  A comprehensive review of compliance schemes in Ireland in 2014 examined this aspect and recommended that the tyre market in Ireland is such that only one Producer Organisation would be viable. This single compliance model already works in other waste streams for example, farm plastics (IFFPG) and packaging (Repak).

The vEMC will be set at a level to enable the scheme operate on a not for profit basis while ensuring they manage the regulatory obligations of their members.  Should it become apparent to me that the charge is insufficient to cover or is exceeding the cost of managing tyres in an environmentally sound manner, I will amend the charge accordingly.