New Zealand’s first national tyre recycling scheme is now fully operational with free collections starting this week.
Environment Minister Penny Simmonds said the first priority product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres marks a significant step toward addressing a long-standing issue for the country.
“Every year, New Zealand imports around 6.5 million tyres. Of these, only about 40 per cent are recycled, reprocessed or exported,” Simmonds said.
“The remainder often end up in landfills, stockpiles, or are illegally dumped. This not only wastes a valuable resource, but it also places a heavy burden on local communities and councils who are usually left to handle the cleanup. This will change under the new scheme.”
Industry has led the co-design of the scheme, known as ‘Tyrewise’, which will collect, process end-of-life tyres into new products.
Tyre ‘generators’, such as tyre shops, can have their end-of-life tyres collected for free. Members of the public can also dispose of up to five worn-out tyres per day, for free, at registered public collection sites around the country.
“With Tyrewise, New Zealanders now have assurance that tyre disposal will be responsibly and sustainably managed wherever you are based,” Simmonds said.
A tyre stewardship fee funds the scheme. The fee is built into the cost of the newly imported tyres that have entered the market from 1 March 2024. It replaces the old system of ad-hoc disposal fees that many tyre retailers used to charge.
“The tyre stewardship fee is similar to the disposal charges that New Zealanders were already paying, but with a crucial difference—part of the revenue will now be invested into local infrastructure and into research for new sustainable uses for end-of-life tyres,” Simmonds said.
“By collaborating with industry, New Zealand’s first priority product stewardship scheme is a significant step toward a waste system that protects the environment.”
Adele Rose, Tyrewise Scheme Managers 3R Group said the scheme has a target of 80 per cent of tyres recovered for recycling or use in a new product by its fourth year, and more than 90 per cent by its sixth year.”
Justine Haves, Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions said more than 32,000 tyres have been dumped on public land across the Auckland region during the past two years, costing the council and ratepayers more than $136,000 for responsible disposal.
Haves said Tyrewise will take the burden off local councils and ratepayers, which often foot the bill for dealing with illegally dumped tyres or tyre stockpiles that catch fire.
“This doesn’t include the cost of specialist retrieval or the costs to the environment when tyres are dumped in waterways or reserves,” she said.
“Throwing old tyres into landfill is also a waste of a valuable resource, which can be put to much better use.”
Cambridge-based company Treadlite processes end-of-life tyres so they can be used in new products.
Brad Pierce, Director said their business is based on the idea that a waste product can be turned into something of value.
“We believe it represents a significant step forward in managing the collection and recycling of tyres throughout New Zealand as well as a move towards a more circular economy,” he said.
“We think it will foster the innovation needed so that we can build New Zealand’s capacity to deal with its end-of-life tyres onshore.”
For more information, www.tyrewise.co.nz
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