Shire of Carnarvon changes tyre tip fees following community criticism, as illegal dumping remains an issue

A $2/kg flat rate to dispose of tyres at the Shire of Carnarvon will be scrapped following criticism from local residents, while president Eddie Smith says illegal dumping is still an issue. The shire will take action to increase the ease of tyre disposals at the Browns Range Waste Facility after its current $2 flat rate per kilo payment model, introduced in July, was met with public criticism. The change was intended to create a fair payment method for both domestic and commercial customers, but it was made known they were frustrated with the changes, particularly those discarding small or single tyres. At the October council meeting, councillors voted to amend the disposal fees to a tyre type payment model and introduce a one-month amnesty on tip fees payable by commercial properties. Users who discarded tyres from September 25 are eligible for a refund. Disposal fees for motorcycle tyres are $8, standard car tyres $15, light truck tyres $17, heavy vehicle tyres $41 and tractors up to $394. MKB Skip Bins requested the amnesty for commercial property’s tip fees, stating: “There are a lot of properties that require urgent attention and require a clean-up of miscellaneous waste surrounding their properties. The incentive may entice landowners to clean-up the outer parts of the commercial precinct of Carnarvon”. A similar amnesty period was extended to the horticultural districts, which resulted in more than 230 tonnes of waste being cleaned up and sent to Browns Range Waste Facility. Shire president Eddie Smith, who in November 2022 posted a video on Facebook showing the outskirts of Carnarvon littered with illegally dumped materials, said he’d seen a reduction but believed the trend was picking up again. “We’re still seeing illegally dumped waste. I just don’t understand — people just can’t be bothered taking it to the tip. They’re travelling further than actually going to the tip,” he said. Last year, Cr Smith said he was “utterly disappointed” and “ashamed” of members of the community choosing to dump their household rubbish illegally. The shire hopes the amendments will enhance the overall appearance of the community through clean-ups and reduced waste dumping.