§ Mr. MadelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number and location of sites in England that have been used for the underground burial of used tyres; how regularly these sites are inspected to check on their safety and any general environmental implications that they may have; if he will make this information available to the public; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BaldryInformation on the number and location of sites used for the underground burial of used tyres is not held centrally. Her Majesty's chief inspector of fire services wrote to the Chief and Assistant Fire Officers Association in May about the problem posed by tyre dumps. Responses from chief fire officers gave some indication of the number of tyre dumps in particular areas. My Department will be writing to local authorities in the new year to seek further information on the location of tyre dumps.
The disposal of waste by landfill is licensed by waste disposal authorities under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. Individual site licences may set down conditions relating to the disposal of used tyres. Used tyres which cannot be remoulded or retreaded are commonly shreded prior to disposal by landfill where they are mixed with other waste.
The monitoring of licensed waste disposal sites is carried out by waste disposal authorities. These authorities have a duty to maintain a register of all disposal licences issued by them which are in force and to make this register available to the public.