Nationwide changes to the way Aotearoa New Zealand funds the management of end-of-life tyres came into effect on 1 March
This first stage of Government regulations designed to reduce environmental harm from
end-of-life tyres will see a tyre stewardship fee charged to all new tyres (including tractor and ute tyres) or vehicles imported with tyres.
These regulations to help manage tyres at the end of their life are something the tyre industry has been working hard to get into place for years.
Tyrewise, the country’s regulated product stewardship scheme for tyres, says the changes will make it easier for the rural sector to safely dispose of everything from tyres on side-by-sides and utes to those found on tractors and harvesters.
The first stage of regulation commenced on 1 March. Buyers of tractors and utes will now notice a tyre stewardship fee being charged when they purchase new tyres or when vehicles are imported with tyres. This fee will be used to manage those tyres at the end of their life.
It must be applied at a standard rate across the country and has been set at $6.65 (excl. GST) for a standard passenger tyre and will go up in increments depending on the size of the tyre.
The fee payable on new tyres for their future management applies from 1 March. Existing ad hoc disposal fees may apply on any old tyres that need to be disposed of up until 1 September 2024 at which time this must stop.
From 1 September 2024, Tyrewise will be responsible for arranging the free collection of end-of-life tyres from registered tyre sellers, garages, and public collection sites.
The scheme will also ensure the tyres go to registered processors and manufacturers, so they get a second life in a new product, rather than being landfilled, stockpiled, or dumped.
“The rural sector has some unique challenges when it comes to end-of-life tyres due to the often-remote locations and the size of some of the tyres replaced off large machinery,” says Adele Rose, of Tyrewise Implementation Project Managers 3R Group.
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Adele Rose
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“Tyrewise will work with rural service providers to enable backloading of the more difficult-to-collect tyres, making the process easier and more efficient.”
Tyrewise has set a target of 80% of tyres processed by the fourth year of operation and more than 90% by the sixth year, Adele says. Currently, only about 40% of end-of-life tyres in New Zealand are recycled or used in the creation of new products. “Specially designed software will track the volumes collected and delivered to processors and manufacturers so that we can measure and report our progress against the targets,” she says.
“Our implementation team has been busy behind the scenes for months now, registering tyre importers, sellers, transporters, processors, and end market manufacturers, making sure everybody is ready to play their part. It’s amazing what you can achieve when an entire industry comes together to make a positive difference.”
The scheme will initially cover all air-filled and solid tyres for use on motorised vehicles for cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, tractors, forklifts, aircraft, and off-road vehicles.
Tyres for products such as bicycles and non-motorised equipment, such as prams, as well as pre-cured rubber for retreads will be brought into the scheme at a later date. Consultation with stakeholders on these scope two tyres is expected in late 2024.
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