ENVIRONMENT Agency Wales is taking action to try to prevent illegal tyre dumping in Pembrokeshire.

Illegally dumped tyres are a fire risk and an eyesore and fires cause serious pollution with black smoke contaminating the air, soil and plants. Over the next two weeks, Agency officers will be visiting local tyre retailers, vehicle dismantlers and waste carriers throughout Pembrokeshire. The purpose is to raise awareness and to gather information about the scale of the problem.

It is estimated that 427,000 tonnes of waste tyres are generated each year in the UK and this figure continues to rise as rates of vehicle ownership increase.

Most tyres are classified as controlled waste and they must be handled in accordance with the duty of care requirements specified in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

This means that individuals or companies keeping or handling waste must take all reasonable steps to ensure its safe storage and disposal. The waste originator or producer must be sure that it is being handed to someone authorised to take it. Only registered waste carriers can be used for the transportation of waste tyres.

A European Union directive on landfill bans the disposal of whole tyres to landfill by 2003, and shredded tyres by 2006. The Agency is concerned that if action is not taken now, tyre dumping could significantly increase.

An Agency spokesperson said: The illegal activities of a few unscrupulous operators cause harm to the environment and give the tyre industry a bad name. The Agency is working closely with the industry to gather information and root out the illegal operators.