KWIK-FIT Fleet is working with partners throughout the fleet industry to reduce the number of used tyres put in landfill sites every year.

Following a series of initiatives, the firm has found an alternative home for 98% of tyres it replaces each year, totalling hundreds of thousands of tyres. New avenues include recycling, retreading or turning tyres into fuel. Every day in Britain, more than 100,000 worn tyres are removed from cars, vans and trucks, accounting for about 40 million tyres a year.

Kwik-Fit Fleet is working with Waste Tyre Solutions to develop alternative disposal routes. The fast-fit firm was one of the first to join WTS's voluntary Partnership for Responsible Management of Post-consumer Tyres scheme, which encourages outlets to show their support for responsible tyre disposal.

Kwik-Fit Fleet is also working with ARVAL PHH, which replaces 500,000 tyres a year to introduce a tyre environmental strategy. Nigel Robson, head of networks at ARVAL PHH, said: 'We have agreed with all national tyre suppliers to pay towards the environmental scrap disposal of tyres removed from all of the group's vehicles.

'WTS dispose of tyres in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly method possible. We do not contribute to the disposal of tyres via landfill sites.'

Taking a responsible approach to tyre disposal offers a forceful rebuff to Government attacks on the industry.

Fleets were recently attacked for their 'irresponsible' attitude to tyre disposal by the National Tyre Distributors Association, which said employers were responsible for ensuring suppliers disposed of tyres in an environmentally-friendly manner.

This will in turn be backed up with a European Union Directive that will outlaw the disposal of whole tyres in 2003 and the disposal of shredded tyres by 2006. Kwik-Fit Fleet director Simon English said: 'Burying scrap tyres in the ground is the least acceptable disposal route open to the tyre industry.

'Tyres do not degrade so they will stay around for decades ahead. Landfilling is also an expensive option, which also denies an opportunity to give the tyre a valuable second life.

'Fleets need to be sure that used tyres are being disposed of in the correct way.'