Council now collects your spare tyres

Not this spare tyre

If you live in East Dunbartonshire and have a spare tyre then simply leave it up to the Council to get rid of it for you. No, we’re not getting personal, we’re just trying to cut down on fly-tipping by adding to the list of things that we will help you to recycle.

Old tyres are a problem

More than 700 million new tyres are produced each year worldwide and nearly all of them are stockpiled, buried or burned when they become worn out. The EU Landfill Directives in 2003 and 2006 banned whole tyres from landfill and shredded tyres are also excluded which is why it has become increasing difficult to dispose of tyres.

So with legislation raising the cost of disposing of tyres legitimately there is growing concern about illegal flytipping. In response to calls from local people, the Council’s Protective Services Section has teamed up with a company which is licensed to recycle old tyres.

Councillor Billy Hendry, Convener of the Development & Environment Committee, explained, “Tyres are designed and built to be durable and to survive the very harshest conditions when on your vehicle. This makes disposing of them extremely difficult and as a result they are often dumped on our streets and in the countryside.

“However, things are changing and now, if people in East Dunbartonshire have old tyres in their garages or sheds they can take them to the Mavis Valley waste transfer station in Bishopbriggs for recycling.”

The tyres are chipped to provide fuel for use in the cement industry, replacing the use of fossil fuels. They are fully consumed in the process and become part of the cement.

Please note that individuals can bring a maximum of four tyres and no commercial loads will be accepted at Mavis Valley.

Written 28/4/09