Tractor tyre levy of up to €320 per machine proposed in Ireland

Circol ELT, Ireland’s approved tyre compliance body, has requested permission from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) to extend tyre-recycling charges to agricultural and earth‑moving machinery. The plan would impose a levy of up to €80 per tyre—new, used or imported—amounting to around €320 for a typical four‑wheel tractor.

This charge would take effect via the machinery dealer or importer and could be enacted as a Statutory Instrument this autumn.

Cost implications for contractors and farmers

• The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors (FCI) estimates 137,400 tyres in Irish contractor fleets.
• The levy could add €10.9 million in annual costs across the sector.
• FCI chief Ann Gleeson Hanrahan warns this additional burden isn't easily passed on to farmers and argues that a lack of traceability in current tyre-recycling processes amplifies concerns.

Industry response and calls for delay

The Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) supports the polluter‑pays principle but argues the current EPR plan lacks clarity on key elements:

• Classification of manufacturers vs dealers
• Handling of tyres on equipment exported after sale
• Obligations for dealers who don’t directly sell tyres

FTMTA president Maurice Kelly has urged postponement of the levy until these issues are fully resolved.

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Although EPR schemes align with circular‑economy goals, implementing them for large‑format agricultural tyres presents unique challenges. Transparency in tyre traceability and equitable cost apportionment are essential. As farming machinery increasingly integrates precision and telematics systems, there’s potential to embed recycling data into the asset’s digital lifecycle, futureproofing EPR compliance and ensuring fair cost distribution.

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Tagged with: tractor tyre levy, Extended Producer Responsibility, agricultural tyre recycling, Circol ELT, FCI, FTMTA

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