Tyre Stewardship Australia backs research in 2015-16 priorities

The CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) says the Board has approved its business plan for the coming year.

TSA Chief Executive Matt Genever announced approval of the plan on his LinkedIn page on 5 August.

The strategy focuses on three priority areas for the next 12 months: audit and compliance, market development, and build capacity.

With its plan, TSA aims to address some of the challenges it has faced since launching in 2013. These include engaging brands and retailers with the scheme, and supporting its accreditation process with a rigorous audit process to ensure best practice in the management of end of life tyres. In addition, it recognises that more work is needed to support research and development into markets and applications for tyre-derived products.

On his post, Mr Genever said: “Since its inception in 2013, TSA has been in a foundation stage working closely with industry to bring tyre manufactures and importers into the national tyre product stewardship scheme. With seven major brands – representing more than 60% of the new tyre market – now fully compliant members, TSA has the financial backing and industry support to fully operationalise.”

Across the supply chain, 11 tyre collectors and recyclers now have TSA accreditation, and more than 1,000 retail outlets are accredited or in the accreditation process. Mr Genever said that by the end of 2015 the majority of Australians will have access to a TSA-accredited tyre retailer within a short drive.

As part of its first priority of audit and compliance, TSA will be testing and refining its audit process in consultation with its members until the end of the year. It then plans to roll out the full audit schedule across all categories from January 2016.

With its second priority area of market development, TSA recognises that for locally-driven tyre recycling markets to thrive they need sustainable end markets for tyre-derived products. TSA will provide $1.5 million in 2015-16 to support research projects to identify, develop and improve tyre-derived products.

TSA’s third priority, as outlined by Matt Genever, is to “build our internal capacity and capability to effectively deliver on the requirements of the scheme”. This includes increase resourcing of market development, accreditation and setting the knowledge agenda for management of end of life tyres in Australia.

A public document on the implementation of the business plant will be released in the coming weeks.

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