At the end of 2011 we would like to thank all those who participated in TRACS this year. The membership increased by 100% since March to December 2011 which we are delighted with.
Since the change in relation to the returns been submitted quarterly instead of yearly the response is very positive with a high percentage of members returning on time. Please remember it is not the job of TRACS to keep phoning and contacting members regarding this matter.
We would please ask retailers to use only waste collectors with a valid waste permit as all returns are going to be checked as they come in. Giving out tyres to farmers is not permitted and this practise has got to stop. If farmers need tyres they can obtain tyres from a waste collector.
If any member has any news items we could feature in our newsletter please contact TRACS and we will include these items in the future.
We are currently sending out the renewal documents for 2012 so please fill out the relevant forms and return them to us as soon as possible.
Please be aware of illegal waste collectors
A Co Down man was today fined

Mr John Fox a dairy farmer from Galway who scooped the Arrabawn co op milk supplier of the year award, believes in high standards on his farm. He had a surplus of silage pit tyres when he changed over to silage wrap bales. He looked to the ITIA (Irish Tyre Industry Association) website to find a tyre collector and he chose Crumb Rubber Ireland who collected the tyres for a small fee. John was assured that the old tyres would be recycled to make new products rather than going into a land fill site.
TRACS is influencing behavioural change with respect to how producers, importers and retailers view and deal with the tyre waste created as a result of their activities and recently ran an End of Life Tyre Up-cycling Competition in conjunction with NCAD (National College of Art and Design). The aim of the competition was to find the most innovative and practical solutions to reusing and recycling end of life waste tyres. Judging criteria included commercial potential for the product, ability to up-cycle large amounts of tyres, the energy used in production and the potential to raise awareness of recycling.
Industrial design students Gemma Beardsley and Ellen Fogarty were the overall winners of the competition with their project ‘ShoreSave’, which aims at providing coastal communities with sustainable solutions to both the problems of disposing of waste tyres and coastal erosion. ShoreSave serves the function of a strong robust crash barrier against incoming waves, protecting vulnerable coastlines.
TRACS has had a major influence on changing industry attitudes to managing tyre waste since it started in 2008. TRACS currently records over 90% of all tyres imported and supplied in Ireland and 64% of tyres retailed, while waste collectors who are members of TRACS report over 72% collection of total units supplied on to the market.