Farmers will not be charged a recycling fee on new tractor tyres when new regulations on disposal of waste tyres are introduced. This was stated by Minister Denis Naughten in a letter to IFA environment chair Thomas Cooney.

“I looked further into your concerns in relation to a visible Environmental Management Charge (vEMC) being introduced for agricultural tyres. I am not satisfied that sufficient data is available at this point to enable me to set a vEMC for agricultural tyres,” he wrote. “Therefore, I have decided to set the vEMS for agricultural tyres at zero in the new regulations.”

However, data will be collected and it will inform the Minister’s consideration of the level of fee to be set between six and 12 months after introduction of the scheme, he wrote. Thomas Cooney welcomed the decision, saying he will not accept excessive charges on farmers.