New report reveals illegal tyre dumping costs Australian communities millions

The cost of cleaning up illegally dumped tyres is continuing to rise, leaving councils, communities and ratepayers to pick up the bill.

Tyre Stewardship Australia’s latest research, prepared by Blue Environment, reveals the growing financial impact of illegal tyre dumping across Australia.

The key findings

• 41% increase in the cost of cleaning up dumped tyres
• $31 average clean-up cost per tyre, paid by ratepayers
• Nearly $9 million in estimated clean-up costs
• 8 in 10 Australians believe ratepayers should not be footing the bill

The real cost of illegal tyre dumping

Illegal tyre dumping is more than an eyesore. It places an unnecessary financial burden on governments and communities, creates environmental and fire risks, and undermines Australia’s legitimate tyre recycling industry.

Dumped tyres do not naturally degrade and can remain in the environment for decades unless they are removed. They can pose a fire hazard, release pollutants into soils and waterways, and collect water that can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Illegal dumping also impacts legitimate tyre recyclers. Operators who dump tyres avoid the costs associated with responsible recovery and recycling, undermining businesses investing in better resource recovery outcomes.

The true scale is likely even greater

The research estimates the scale and cost of dumped tyres cleaned up by local governments and state government agencies across municipal roads, public reserves, regional waste facilities, national parks, state forests and arterial road networks. It does not capture tyres that remain dumped and uncollected, or many tyres dumped or stored on private and other state-owned land. This means the estimated scale and cost of illegal tyre dumping outlined in the report are likely to be conservative.

Explore the full findings on the scale, cost and impact of illegal tyre dumping across Australia, including the financial burden being placed on councils and communities.