Tyres become waste tyres when they:
- have been removed from a vehicle
- cannot be used for their original purpose.
Waste tyres are combustible waste. Tyres are made from a combination of rubber, steel and textiles. This produces thick, black smoke when burnt. Tyre fires can be difficult to put out and can last for a long time.
Waste tyres and the law
It's an offence under the Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window) and local laws to burn or dump waste tyres.
The general environmental duty applies to managing waste tyres.
Waste tyres are pre-classified as reportable priority waste under Schedule 5 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window).
There are duties under the Act that apply to managing, transporting and depositing reportable priority waste. The duties that apply to people generating, transporting or receiving waste tyres are:
- duties of persons managing priority waste
- duties of persons depositing industrial waste
- duty of persons involved in transporting industrial waste
- duties of persons receiving industrial waste
- duty to notify us of transaction in reportable priority waste
- duty to investigate alternatives to waste disposal.
The duty of persons transporting reportable priority waste does not apply to waste tyres.
You must get a permission to store 5 m3 or more of waste tyres. Permissions have conditions that must be followed. Activities that need a permission are:
- A09a – Waste tyre storage (large)
- A09b – Waste tyre storage (small)
- B04 – Waste tyres in silage production.
Learn more about managing waste tyres.
Our role in waste tyres
We regulate the management of waste tyres. This includes their:
- transport
- storage
- disposal.
Impact of waste tyres on your health
Waste tyre stockpiles are a hazard to the Victorian community, human health and the environment. They can lead to fires that are difficult to control.
Tyre fires generate hazardous smoke, which is a health risk. People can inhale particles and chemicals from the smoke. For more information, visit Smoke and your health.
Updated