Authorities in Queensland, Australia are investigating the illegal dumping of more than 550 used car tyres in Springbrook National Park, a protected rainforest area in the Gold Coast hinterland and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Officials warn the incident poses environmental risks and could leave local communities paying twice for disposal.

The state’s Department of Environment says it found three separate piles of tyres in the park last week and is seeking public assistance to identify those responsible. Jackie McKeay, head of waste and enforcement services, described the dumping as “extremely serious,” noting that tyres can pollute soil and waterways and threaten native wildlife. In Queensland, fines can reach AUD 330 (USD 215) for individuals and AUD 12,000 (USD 7,800) for corporations.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) CEO Lina Goodman called the dumping a “waste crime” and says similar cases occur across the country. In Australia, motorists typically pay a disposal fee of AUD 7.60–15 when replacing tyres, but Goodman says some unregulated operators exploit these charges by offering cut-price collection and then dumping the tyres illegally. “The people that lose out are the people who live in the area … paying for the disposal of the tyre when they’re taking it to a retail shop but then they’re having to pay for it again … to clean the mess up when it’s in a national park,” she said.

Research by TSA shows it can cost local councils in Queensland up to AUD 32 per tyre to clean up dumped waste—more than four times the average legal disposal cost. Goodman is urging the federal government to adopt a mandatory national tyre stewardship scheme, similar to those in other countries, where tyres are tracked from collection to final use. “This can all go away if we were regulating the collection and processing of tyres,” she said.

For more information, proceed to the original article by ABC News.