Tyres are piling up, and not just at mechanics.
Across Australia, thousands are being dumped in national parks, creeks, and bushland, causing serious harm to the environment and costing councils millions to clean up.
As reported by Yahoo News Australia, illegally dumped tyres are costing Australians $6.5 million a year. Some of the worst-hit areas are regional and outer suburban communities, where rogue operators can easily disappear, leaving ratepayers to foot the bill.
In just the past year, Snap Send Solve has received more than 6,000 reports of dumped tyres, and 7,189 in 2024.
As CEO Danny Gorog told Yahoo:
“Dumped tyres create real problems for the environment by leaking chemicals and increasing fire risks.”
With tyres showing up in hard-to-reach places like national parks and state forests, community Snaps are often the first and only way councils know where to act.
Could the solution cost $6.60?
The article points to New Zealand’s successful approach: a $6.60 levy per tyre, built into the cost of replacement, and a national system that tracks and recycles tyres properly. Illegal dumping there? Practically wiped out.
While Australia has a voluntary scheme, experts say it's time for a rethink, and a current federal inquiry is now looking into how tyre waste can be better managed.
Check out the full story here.
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