Minister Dion George has withdrawn the approval of the Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan (IndWTMP), which was initially published on March 20th, 2024
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has announced the withdrawal of the approval decision for the Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan (IndWTMP), published under Government Notice 4542 in Government Gazette 50233 on 20 March 2024. This decision aims to ensure a thorough review and reflects the Minister’s commitment to evaluating policies developed by previous administrations.
“While the Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan was developed through a prolonged and consultative process, concerns have been raised regarding its alignment with current sector realities and policy intent,” said Minister George. “The withdrawal enables a focused review to ensure the final Plan is implementable, transparent, and fully responsive to the operational and governance complexities facing the sector.”
The withdrawal, authorised under section 10(3) of the Interpretation Act, enables the Department to revisit the Plan in detail. This process will involve renewed stakeholder engagement and the appointment of an organ of state, such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), to refine the Plan and address areas such as data accuracy and sector capacity.
“My goal is to deliver a waste tyre management plan that is practical, inclusive, and future-proof,” Minister George added. “This withdrawal is a proactive step to ensure we get it right, building a stronger foundation for the waste tyre industry and environmental justice.”
The Department confirmed that this process will not disrupt existing waste tyre management operations, ensuring that current arrangements for waste tyre collection and processing remain in place. Engagements with the National Treasury are underway to secure a sustainable funding model. Further details on the review process will be shared with stakeholders in due course.
