In a bid to reduce waste and actually repurpose it for something productive, the Fijian government is funding the new Fijian Stewardship of Tyres with an allocation of $200,000 in the 2021-2022 financial year.
Fiji Moves to Deal with Tyre Problem
“It is a tragedy to see used tyres ending up in ditches by the road, strewn across the coast, and in our communities where they become breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” said Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while delivering the 2021- 2022 National Budget in July.
“Rather than being discarded and left to become unsightly breeding grounds for mosquitoes, they can actually be used for productive purposes.
“Through this new programme, we will be buying back used tyres and imposing a tyre recycling levy on all new and second-hand imported vehicles.
“We will also roll out a tyre-refund scheme for existing on-road tyres and for legacy tyres in dump yards, back yards and stockpiles.”
He said the Ministry of Economy and the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Waterways and Environment would work with tyre importers and retailers, local recycling companies and repair shops to get the programme off the ground and keep used tyres out of the environment.
“Fiji imports an average of around 290,000 tyres per year and an estimated 565,000 tyres are currently being used on Fijian roads.
“Through this programme, we expect to not only extend the value chain of tyres, but also create a vibrant recycling sector that can eventually spread throughout the Pacific.
“We also expect to use recycled shredded tyres in road construction initiatives such as rubberised asphalt.
“And FRA depots will be used to collect tyres and indeed they are currently in talks with the company that is going to mix bitumen with tyre crumb to lay on our roads.”
Companies wishing to know more about the opportunities in the Fijian market should approach the commercial attaché at the relevant Embassy in their country.
Source: Fijian Times
