Australia’s Environment Ministers have agreed to work together to reduce the millions of tyres across the country that are ending up dumped in landfill or accumulated in hazardous stockpiles.
Queensland’s Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Victoria’ Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water yesterday (15 December) jointly presented a proposal to develop market opportunities for used tyres in Australia to all Commonwealth, state and territory environment ministers.
Victoria Environment Minister Lisa Neville said of the 51 million end-of-life tyres generated each year, only 16 per cent are recycled, with most ending up stockpiled or dumped in landfill.
“As part of a longer term goal, we need to develop market opportunities for used tyres in Australia. Further research will build on previous work undertaken by jurisdictions and help inform the most cost-effective national approach to markets in the short, medium and long term,” said Ms Neville.
“Sustainable development of markets is a longer-term goal, as part of a collaborative national plan. Recycling rates are low, so we’re aiming to promote new uses and products for end-of-life tyres, so they don’t end up in landfill or, of greater concern, dumped in the bush.”
Ms Neville stated that early in the New Year work will start to develop a national project scope by working closely with Tyre Stewardship Australia, and the Queensland and New South Wales Governments.
Queensland Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles asserted that improving the market was a key priority for all jurisdictions, citing using crumbed rubber in road spray applications as a particular area of success.
Dr Miles said in addition to crumb rubber products, there were a number of available markets for used tyres that needed further exploring.
“Queensland’s project will complement the national plan, which will identify priority markets in the short term and outline a strategy for the sustainable development of markets in the medium and long term,” Dr Miles said.