Tyre dumping mystery solved
Offenders were fly- tipping in nature reserves
THE MYSTERY of who has been dumping thousands of old tyres in protected natural areas around Crevillente has been solved by the Guardia Civil.
This problem had caused considerable concern amongst local residents and environmental associations, who raised the alarm after finding some of the sites.
As a result the town hall decided to assume the legal role of injured party and made an official crime report.
Working closely with the town hall and local police, the force’s environmental service Seprona studied the fly- tipping sites and worked out that the tyres had come from three warehouses in Crevillente and neighbouring San Isidro.
Those responsible were not only dumping the tyres in nature reserves but also storing them in an illegal manner.
Officers located a total of 15 tonnes of tyres that had been abandoned in the countryside, and another 20 tonnes being kept in storage without the permits which are required for proper treatment of waste that is harmful to the environment, explained a Guardia Civil spokesman.
They have arrested three Spaniards aged between 36 and 64 in Crevillente, who are accused of an environmental crime.
The suspects also face fines for nine alleged violations of national and regional legislation on environmental protection, handling of toxic and dangerous waste, and industry.
The tyres have been removed by the town hall and will be processed by authorised recycling companies, but this will come at considerable expense and the council has demanded that those responsible be held accountable for the cost.
A similar problem has been plaguing the countryside in nearby Elche, where city hall has recently removed 2,500 kilos of asbestos.
Councillor for maintenance Héctor Díez called on individuals and businesses to stop dumping pieces of fibre- cement on country roadsides because it poses a risk to people’s health and to the environment.
“The WHO calculates that over 100,000 people die per year from illnesses caused by exposure to this material, such as cancer,” he said.
The waste included sheets of Uralite, and pipes and sacks full of pieces of fibre- cement, all of which have a high asbestos content.
“The people who took them there are surely not aware of how they have endangered their health,” noted Sr Díez.
The operation cost approximately € 20,000 and the council has passed all the information to the local police and Seprona to investigate and increase their vigilance.