Auckland City Council
Media release
15 December 2009

Illegal tyre dumping ends in successful prosecution

A Mangere man and his company have been ordered to pay a total of $3,196 for the illegal dumping of tyres as Auckland City Council cracks down on the problem.

Mohammad Easa Nazif, owner of Fair Motors Ltd, Mangere, and the company were each ordered to pay $1598 in fines and costs in the Auckland District Court.

The court heard that while Mr Nazif was absent from the business, an employee asked two helpers to dump 155 tyres in front of a vacant section in an Otahuhu street, during Auckland City Council’s inorganic collection.

Neighbours witnessed the offloading of tyres from a truck, took photographs and reported the registration number to the council.

In an affidavit to the court, Mr Nazif, who pleaded guilty, said a well-meaning employee had acted to clean up the yard, believing he was doing the company a favour. Mr Nazif said the company normally disposed of tyres properly.

Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar, chairperson of the City Development Committee, said the successful prosecution was a sign the council would actively pursue those guilty of all forms of illegal dumping, particularly by businesses.

“It is a practice which is a blight on the environment and which last financial year costs ratepayers over $500,000 to recover dumped material and dispose of it properly. Last year we spent $24,000 alone collecting and disposing of illegally dumped tyres

“The council’s intention is to ensure that company directors and managers as well as the offending company, are made to pay for these indiscretions. Companies should ensure that employees are adequately trained to know what is acceptable practice and what isn’t,” he said.

* About four million tyres a year are available for recycling in New Zealand. Shredded products are used for drainage, horse arenas, boxing bags, matting, firing range backstops, erosion control, soundproofing, and insulation, among other uses.

* If you need to dispose of used tyres, contact a reputable recycler in the Yellow Pages under Tyre Disposal or phone the council on 379 2020 for advice.

ENDS

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