Tyre producer Sumitomo Rubber South Africa has reiterated that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive waste tyre management plan to guide dealers.
“There needs to be a solid protocol for all tyre dealers to ensure that, once second- hand waste tyres are correctly mutilated and have been assigned for waste pick-up from their stores, they do not resurface in the market,” Sumitomo Rubber South Africa CEO Lubin Ozoux says.
He adds that concerns persist about the lack of a comprehensive Tyre Waste Management Plan in South Africa, with the draft Section 29 Integrated Industry Waste Management Plan for Tyres still pending finalisation.
“Waste tyres present environmental hazards owing to their large volume and slow decomposition rate, leading to visual pollution and potential health risks when they accumulate in landfills or are illegally dumped,” he states.
An estimated 63% of second- hand tyres sold in the country are illegal and unfit for road use, with 750 000 to 900 000 of the 1.5-million to two-million tyres in the second-hand tyre market being illegal and posing a threat to road safety.
“Recycling and proper disposal methods are crucial to minimise the adverse consequences of waste tyres. Additionally, ensuring that retreaded and part-worn tyres meet safety standards is vital for preventing accidents and maintaining roadworthiness,” Ozoux states.