The Italian authorities have got their hands on a large load of 24 tonnes of used tires intended for the Senegalese market. This operation, carried out jointly by the carabinieri of the Grosseto ecological unit and the customs of Livorno, took place last Tuesday in the port of this Tuscan city.
The 2,142 used tires seized were piled up in an anarchic manner, compressed to the point of compromising their structure and safety. According to a manager of the operation quoted by L’Observateur, these tires were “unusable and represented a threat to road safety”. Described as special waste, these tires did not comply with the storage and export standards imposed by Italian legislation. Their shipment to Senegal could have had serious consequences, particularly in terms of road safety and environmental management.
The seizure was made possible thanks to a reliable report concerning this cargo. Investigators discovered that the exporter, an Italian entrepreneur specializing in plastics recycling, is involved in several serious violations.
He is accused of illegal waste management and trafficking, violation of articles 256 and 259 of Italian environmental law, as well as falsification of public documents. Italian authorities plan to prosecute this entrepreneur for his illegal activities, which also raise concerns about the final destination of these used tires.
The case highlights a growing problem of waste transfer from developed to developing countries like Senegal. These used tires, often imported under the pretext of their reuse, end up becoming waste that is difficult to manage.
Not only do they increase road safety risks, but their inappropriate disposal can also lead to negative impacts on the environment, notably through soil and water pollution, and increased risks of fires in landfills.
Senegal
