Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme launches in July

The Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme, announced by the federal government in January this year, will officially begin on 1 July. The national program aims to address the growing challenge posed by the disposal of the millions of old tyres dumped every year.

Managed by Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), an industry initiative led by major tyre manufacturers, the scheme has three core objectives: education of industry and consumers; research and development focused on new uses for the recycled raw materials; and independent auditing designed to eradicate dirty, unsafe and illegal practices. It will be funded through a levy of 25 cents per new tyre sold in Australia.

“Over 48 million tyres (car tyre equivalent) are being added to the waste stream each year,” said TSA Chairman Gerry Morvell. “It is an issue that can only be addressed in a structured, transparent and well-coordinated manner. Tyre Stewardship Australia creates the means to meet this challenge.”

Crumbed rubber: recycled raw material TSA is working to find more uses for.

The scheme will recognise sustainable end-of-life tyre management through an accreditation and auditing system. It will publicly acknowledge supporting companies that choose to address the issue of unsustainable stockpiles of discarded tyres. Consumers will soon be able to identify participants in the scheme through TSA signage at retail outlets and by visiting the TSA website.

Most of Australia’s leading tyre brands have joined the initiative, which has also received support from tyre-using industries. The scheme is also authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

“The scheme has the potential to play an important role in reducing the volume of used tyres entering the domestic waste stream or being exported overseas and burned for fuel in an environmentally unsustainable way,” said ACCC Chairman Rod Sims. “This will reduce the environmental and health and safety hazards associated with such disposal methods.”

Environment Minister Greg Hunt and TSA Chairman Gerry Morvell.

The Australian tyre recycling industry has recently suffered a contraction due to unsustainable tyre disposal practice. A two-fold increase in the volume of old tyres exported to less developed nations over the last seven years had further undermined investments and the viability of domestic recycling activity.

“Participation in the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme will ensure that this trend is reversed,” said Morvell. “It will lead to the ongoing development of new manufacturing processes, new job opportunities and entirely new industries that utilise the recycled tyre feedstock.”

The scheme has been praised by Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who said, “The participating members of the Australian Tyre Industry Council have overcome competitive pressures to improve the industry and create better outcomes locally, nationally and globally. It’s about new products and new industries emerging from what was considered a waste problem. I don’t think there are many better examples of cooperation that does the right thing by industry and the right thing by the environment.”