AQW 20845/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 23/06/2021
Answered On Date: 07/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how his Department is addressing the burning of tyres at bonfire sites this year.

Answer:

NIEA focuses its resources on preventing the unauthorised disposal of used tyres, be that to bonfires or as illegally dumped waste. In doing so, NIEA officers carry out visits to tyre retail premises, inspecting waste storage and duty of care documentation to ensure that waste tyres are properly secured and are being disposed of at appropriately licensed facilities. While COVID restrictions constrained this activity during 2020, to date this year NIEA has completed 84 tyre retailer inspections.

In the 12 months prior to the end of June 2021, NIEA officials also participated in 26 Council-led Interagency Bonfire Meetings involving 5 councils (Causeway Coast and Glens, Derry & Strabane , Lisburn & Castlereagh, Mid & East Antrim, Newry Mourne and Down). These intra-agency meetings aim to resolve issues associated with traditional bonfires by council and statutory stakeholders working in a mutually supportive partnership. As part of this approach my Department has where it is safe to do so and with appropriate support from our partners assisted in the removal of waste tyres from bonfires sites or nearby locations. Since April 2020 the NIEA has secured the safe removal and collection of 29.36 tonnes of waste tyres, at a cost of £11,447 to my Department.