Australia’s peak tyre recycling body is partnering with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) to recommend new measures designed to improve environmental and economic outcomes for used tyres.
The Australian Tyre Recyclers Association (ATRA) and the FCAI are in Canberra to announce a proposal which they say will encourage a consistent approach among recyclers, manufacturers, and retailers.
The government is being asked to consider a series of regulatory options that would further develop the used tyre recovery sector and repurpose materials otherwise destined for landfill.
Robert Kelman, ATRA Executive Officer, said Australia’s used tyre collection and recycling sector is already highly regulated and successfully providing valuable products domestically and across the Asia Pacific region.
“Australia enjoys a world class collection rate for used passenger and commercial tyres of 97 to 98 per cent and the sector is keen to continue improving its operations,” Kelman said.
“We can do better and tyres should not be stockpiled, dumped or landfilled when there are logical solutions.”
The government is being asked to consider regulatory improvements, including:
- Regulatory interventions to remove the 99 per cent of used mining tyres from site
- Additional fees for a product stewardship scheme
- Scheme fees for remote area collection and legacy stockpile removal
- Targeted retail waste generator compliance program, working with existing environmental protection authority programs
- State-based bans on disposal of all processed used tyres to landfill
- Improved government procurement for used tyre products
- Improved governance and engagement with stakeholders under any revised scheme
“Bans to landfill, remote collection programs and ensuring waste mine tyres aren’t simply buried on site, are all relatively simple actions governments could take to improve sector outcomes,” Kelman said.
“Published data has on site disposal rates of 99 per cent though industry experience suggests this could be closer to 90 per cent and around 10 per cent of used OTR’s are likely removed from site.
“Australian tyre recyclers look forward to working with governments to improve the existing product stewardship scheme and to abolish regulatory loopholes that allow used tyres to be landfilled,” he said.
The regulatory proposal is being launched at the Australian Made Recovered Resources Showcase in Canberra.
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