Minimising the environmental impacts of end-of-life tyres by managing these tyres from collection through to processing is the key to Tyrewise, a first of its kind regulated product stewardship programme.
From March 1, 2024, tyres must be sold in accordance with the accredited tyre scheme.
A tyre stewardship fee will be collected on all tyres covered by the scheme when they enter the Aotearoa New Zealand market to fund the scheme.
Hastings-based 3R Group was a key player in design of the programme and now manages its implementation. Adele Rose, 3R chief executive, told BayBuzz that essentially end of life tyres may be left with the tyre seller or fitter when the tyre is replaced.
“This is made possible by a tyre stewardship fee paid when the tyre is purchased which replaces adhoc fees that currently exist. The scheme then takes care of the tyre. The scheme will make tyre disposal easy for everyone throughout the motu,” Rose said.
Tyres that may be stockpiled from previous historical rural functions (e.g., sileage pit cover) sit outside of the scheme. In these instances, the scheme would work with the landowner to find a suitable way forward.
Rose said tyre disposal in Hawke’s Bay had evolved in the past decade.
“The Omarunui Landfill used to accept processed tyres (quartered or shredded). The landfill no longer accepts tyres, and the industry actively diverts end of life tyres to tyre processing companies for a range of end market uses,” she said.
“The purpose of Tyrewise is to ensure all tyres are stewarded which means all tyres to market will be captured by the scheme. This will address previous issues such as stockpiling, dumping and the associated environmental risk, like fire.”
Rose said payments provided by Tyrewise for collection and transport would create “sustainable income streams, while incentives for eligible processing and manufacturing along with R&D grants will stimulate the development of innovative end uses in the domestic market.
“Tyrewise will track tyres through the process via a network of registered participants, with audit processes to ensure tyres are kept from illegal dumping, stockpiling and landfilling.”
She said the scheme would provide quality data on the number of tyres within the system and the pathways for end-of-life tyres.
“The scheme will provide a practical solution for tyres across the whole country.”
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Bay Buzz, are you able to follow through and inform us of the ideas/industries, both current and proposed, for sustainable ongoing end uses of tyres throughout NZ? It is a huge issue in which we are all users, one way and another
Recycling tyres, a great move, we all hope they find a safe use for the raw product.
From exsiting studies, heavy metals, everlasting chemicals are found to release from granulated tyres.
Perhaps not the brightest idea to use it in children’s playgrounds, and any ground use where drinking water can absorb the heavy metals etc.
Also the use of tyre rubber mixed with asphalt for road surfacing, would increase the amount of tyre contaminants including the rubber, washing down the drains to our oceans.
Perhaps mixed with concrete it could be a lighter precast panel for noise obsorbing walls on expressways and highways near housing.
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I don’t understand. If someone has a tyre and cuts it up into small pieces and then puts it into landfill, this scheme will stop this?? It’s like heavy metals from electronics. Easy to put in landfill rubbish. Extraction methods should be able to self fund any scheme from the more valuable heavy metals