29 tonnes of tyres removed from NI bonfires in last 15 months

Tyres produce a dense black smoke when burned, which is harmful and toxic to people and the environment. They are typically placed at the centre of bonfires and surrounded by pallets, to make the fire burn more effectively.

While many bonfire builders across Northern Ireland have taken action to remove tyres from their sites in recent years, there are still many that use them. This year, a significant number of tyres were put on a huge bonfire in the Kilcooley estate in Bangor.

Both the NIEA and councils have enforcement powers to deal with the burning of waste, including waste tyres. Under Article 4 of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997, it is an offence to treat, keep or dispose of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. Those found to be burning tyres can receive fines of up to £400 per offence or criminal prosecution through the courts.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), on summary conviction for Article 4 offences, an offender is liable to a fine of up to £50,000, and/or two years’ imprisonment. On conviction on indictment, the offender is liable to an unlimited fine and/or five years’ imprisonment.

DAERA Minister Edwin Poots said: "Given the obvious difficulties in identifying those responsible for the burning of tyres at bonfire sites, my Department 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.

"Both my department and [district councils] work collaboratively within multi-agency partnerships in tackling the range of issues associated with bonfires, including the burning of tyres.

"As part of this partnership working NIEA will, when it is safe to do so, and with support of its partners, remove waste tyres from bonfires or associated sites to prevent their burning. Since April 2020, NIEA has secured the safe removal and collection of approximately 29 tonnes of waste tyres, at a cost of £11,447."

Alliance MLA Andrew Muir called on Mr Poots to do more to prevent the burning of tyres on bonfires.

“Burning tyres releases more than 100 toxic and carcinogenic chemicals into the air and the fine particles can settle into people’s lungs, leading to heart problems and other issues. Local residents should not have to suffer this,” he said.

“The Environment Minister Edwin Poots needs to take action in tackling these environmental crimes.

“In the meantime, robust action could be taken against those supplying and using the tyres for putting people’s health and the environment at risk. That deterrent from the Minister may stop similar behaviour from happening in future.”

It also emerged recently that only five fines relating to the dumping and burning of tyres, totalling £2,825 in value, have been issued in the past five years.

“Edwin Poots has the power to punish those who are responsible for the burning of tyres. But the fact his Department has issued only five fines in the past five years says to me the powers have not been used enough," he said.

“Those responsible for putting tyres on bonfires need to know if they are caught doing so, action will be taken and they will be rightly punished. The current level of enforcement from DAERA is too low to provide a significant deterrent, and this needs to change."

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