New onfarm registration process for farmers

A new Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) registration for farmers using waste tyres in silage production will help reduce the risk of fire and harm to human health and the environment.

Stockpiled tyres can pose a significant fire risk. Tyre fires are hard to extinguish, emit toxic smoke and can contribute to harm in the environment. Having an understanding of a farm’s tyre stocks will help mitigate the risk and severity they pose.

EPA South West Regional Manager Carolyn Francis said silage production is critical for a healthy agricultural industry.  

“The registration strikes the right balance between making sure farmers can feed their stock while also helping to reduce the risk of harm to human health and the environment,” she said.

Farmers, or anyone, using and/or storing 5m3 (about the size of a small skip bin) of waste tyres as weights for silage production, have until 1 July 2023 to apply for a registration.

“We’ve made the process to apply for a registration as easy as possible. It’s free, fast and can even be done on your smart phone.

“By having farmers and others, who use waste tyres for silage production, apply for this free registration, we are all doing our part to ensure waste tyres are correctly stored and managed to help reduce the risk of fire or environmental harm,” Ms Francis said.

For more information and to apply for a registration by 1 July, go to www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/permissions/registrations/b04-guidance-on-waste-tyres-for-silage-production.