Farmers have a once-off chance to bring unwanted tyres to four recycling centres in the coming weeks, marking the start of a clampdown on the disposal and storage of tyres on farms.

One-day collections will open from 9am to 5pm at Cootehill Mart, Co Cavan, on 29 September; New Ross Mart, Co Wexford ,on 9 October; Athenry Mart, Co Galway on 13 October; and Gort Drum Mines, Monard, Co Tipperary, on 20 October.

More recycling centres may open if funding remains available after the four initial dates.

Farmers must pay a €15/t charge for the first 3t of tyres, equivalent to 330 car tyres. This discounted rate is subsidised by a €700,000 contribution from the Department of the Environment. Any tyres above 3t will attract a €160/t charge.

Regulations

Regulations in place since 1 October 2017 limit tyre storage on farms, but allow farmers to hold on to existing stockpiles until they first move any tyres to or from the farm. For many farmers, this first movement will happen when they visit the subsidised collection centres.

From that point, farmers wishing to retain tyres to anchor silage pit covers must register with the approved body RepakELT with their herd number and silage pit size. Each farm is then allowed to keep a maximum of eight tyres per square metre of pit area.