Rolling out the tread carpet

Leaving tyre waste in the dust is the driving force behind a new nationwide scheme rolled out in the region.

The industry-driven Tyrewise scheme started up on 1 September, allowing 76 registered tyre shops and other tyre generators in Nelson Tasman to have their end-of-life tyres collected for free by registered Tyrewise collectors.

It also makes way for the public to dispose of up to five worn-out, clean and de-rimmed tyres per day for free at registered public collection sites which are located at the Richmond, Murchison, Motueka and Tākaka Resource Recovery Centres.

Engagement manager Jason Richards says the desired result was less environmental harm created by tyres in landfill, illegally stockpiled or discarded each year, and for more old tyres to be processed and turned into new products including alternative fuel sources and arena mix.

He says collections at the resource recovery centres would be regular, and most tyres at those sites will be accepted, including those from all-terrain vehicles and light trucks.

“The only exception might be if there are tyres that potentially pose a health and safety risk at those sites, talking about the larger sort of industrial tyres, earth-movers and stuff like that,” he says.

“If the site has gear which they can manoeuvre and shift those large tyres around safely, then they may accept them, otherwise they may direct them to another site.”

The scheme is funded by the tyre stewardship fees, which are collected by the Ministry for the Environment on all newly-imported tyres that have entered the market from 1 March, replacing the old system of makeshift disposal fees that many tyre retailers previously charged.

This also enables registered tyre shops and other tyre generators to pay registered Tyrewise collectors.

Richmond’s SuperTyre branch manager, Aaron Towns-Hopkins, welcomed the initiative.

“Nothing really changes, we still have someone to come and collect the [end-of-life] tyres anyway… the only difference now being you pay when you purchase the tyre and there’s no cost when the tyre gets disposed at the end of its life,” he says.

“Further up the track we’ll know how well it’s going to go or not go.”

Mobil Stoke Automotive co-owner Dave Neiman welcomed the initiative for his small business on Main Rd Stoke, which goes through thousands of end-of-life tyres annually.

“We’ve got to do something, people just can’t keep throwing tyres in the rubbish, but also it’s going to take time to put Joe Public on our side.

“Once they’re on board it should be good for the environment,” he says.

“Theoretically, [the scheme] should mean that we will have a greener business, and we won’t have tyres lying around for weeks on end waiting for pick-ups, the new system should be much smoother.”

Bridgestone Tyre Centre Motueka store manager Steve Griffith says he supported the scheme as it will reduce the potential for the illegal dumping of tyres, as the stewardship fees are paid at the point of purchase, rather than at the end of the tyre’s life.

He reckons their customers have been fine with the changes and that retreads on truck tyres are exempt from the fees, as they are paid in the first purchase.

“I think it’s going to be a good thing for the tyre industry moving forward,” he says.

Steve says the store has had almost 800 tyres collected for disposal in the past six months, with that number set to double over the summer period.