Big boost for Tyrewise

The Tyrewise project has exceeded targets for collecting and processing old rubber for its September 1 to December 31, 2024, reporting period.

Statistics about the product stewardship scheme submitted to the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) show 21,200 tonnes of end-of-life tyres (ELTs) were collected when the target 8,000 was tonnes.

In addition, 7,749t of ELTs were used in tyre-derived fuel and products. The target for that was 5,000t. And 7,098t of this was used in manufacture when the target was target 5,500t.

Now that Tyrewise is exceeding its collection and processing targets, the next part of the puzzle is developing a thriving circular economy for ELTS. Nine per cent of Tyrewise’s budget is targeted towards this. Its current priorities are:

• Opening registrations of interest for its first contestable funding round with more information on that to come.

• Creating a medium-term market growth and investment strategy.

•  Presentations by potential manufacturers and knowledge sharing from schemes from around the globe to the trustees of Auto Stewardship NZ, which is product stewardship organisation for Tyrewise, to inform strategies.

At the moment, NZ Customs is collecting data on loose tyre imports. It will give the information to the MfE so it can collect the stewardship fee.

The government is proposing amendments to legislation so NZ Customs can collect the fee directly if appointed by the government to do so.

It already collects other types of charges at the border, so this could help streamline the fee collection process. Tyrewise is making a submission in support of the bill.

The MfE has notified Tyrewise of the scheme’s first baseline audit, which will be carried out by BDO Wellington Audit.

The ministry will provide the results to ASNZ and the scheme manager, and make recommendations for any improvements to the delivery of the scheme and participation by registered participants.