New Zealand’s Tyrewise has hit the road with an amazing start, exceeding collection and recycling targets across the board
Tyrewise reports that thanks to its great teamwork and its partners, the new tyre stewardship scheme has been able to report considerably better results than had been targeted for the reporting period 1st September – 31st December 2024.
- 21,200 tonnes of end-of-life tyres were collected (target 8,000 tonnes)
- 7,749 tonnes of end-of-life tyres were used in tyre derived fuel and products (target 5,000 tonnes)
- 7,098 tonnes of this was used in manufacture (target 5,500 tonnes)
This marks a real turnaround from the pre-Tyrewise free for all that saw tyre dumps being relocated rather than recycling. It sets the ground for a successful tyre stewardship going forward.
The 21,200 tonnes collected might suggest that the target 8,000 tonnes was underestimated. However, with all the best intentions, no-one can be sure how any such project is going to proceed in its initial launch period. Tyrewise has been incredibly successful in getting the tyre trade to register for the process. This has undoubtably helped Tyrewise reach the success that it has.
There is currently a shortfall between the tyres collected and the tyres being recycled and the real challenge for Tyrewise, as it is for every stewardship/EPR scheme, is to convert collections into environmentally sound recycling.
The one benefit that Tyrewise has is that as a non-tyre producing and island country, it has detailed knowledge of every tyre that enters the country legitimately. So, unlike many others, can work with figures that are closer to the reality.
