NZ drives first national tyre recycling scheme

New Zealand has launched Tyrewise, the country’s first national tyre recycling scheme.

Tyrewise, a regulated product stewardship scheme, is seen as a solution to a long-standing issue. A fee to fund the scheme has been built into the cost of imported tyres that have entered the market since 1 March. 

Businesses including tyre shops can now call on free collection services which launched in September. Members of the public can take up to five used tyres a day to public collection sites around the country, also at no cost.

The scheme covers all pneumatic and solid tyres for use on cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, aircraft, trailers and off-road vehicles. Tyres for most agricultural machinery are also included. Bicycle tyres, tyres for non-motorised equipment such as prams, and pre-cured rubber for retreads will be included in the scheme at a future date.

Incentivise

Tyrewise uses the producer fees to incentivise the conversion of end-of-life tyres into an intermediary product for the domestic market.

‘New Zealand doesn’t have a great record on recovering and recycling tyres,’ says Adele Rose, of Tyrewise Scheme Managers 3R Group. ‘Of the 6.5 million which reach the end of their life each year, only about 40% are being recycled – that will change with Tyrewise.’

The scheme has a target of 80% of tyres recovered, for recycling or use in a new product, by its fourth year, and over 90% by its sixth year.