Tyres are a valuable and cost-effective resource used by many dairy farmers for storing silage. Previously, farmers had an exemption to permit the use of tyres for covering silage. This exemption disappeared with the update of the End of Waste (EOW) Code for 'end of life tyres'. This left farmers who use and keep tyres at risk of being fined for non-compliance to the code.
QDO raised this issue with Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF), and with their assistance, the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) amended the code in February. The code now deems tyres used for silage storage are a resource rather than a waste product.
If you are using tyres on your farm to cover silage, you are required to notify DES that you are a resource user under the EOW code through filling out and submitting a notification form to DES. As a resource user you will also have to keep an acquisition record for a minimum of five years. The record is to be made available to the chief executive of DES on request.
Acquisition records should contain at least the following the information:
- Source of tyres including the business name, ABN, address and environmental authority number if applicable.
- Date of receival.
- Quantity (tonnes).
- The location (address) the tyres are going to be used.
Be aware, tyres that are not on silage need to be appropriately stored in accordance with the Public Health Act 2005 & Fire and Rescue Service Act Requisition (No.1) 2011.
It is also important to know that when tyres are no longer intended to be used for silage, or stored for future silage use, the tyre resource will change to 'waste' which will need to be lawfully transported to a waste facility that accepts tyres.
Any members using tyres for silage should contact QDO for assistance to understand the new requirements and to register as a resource user.
