With an increasing amount of illegal tyre burning in the city, the GCN chatted to the director of REDISA (Recycling Economic Development Initiative of South Africa), Stacey Davidson, to find out what the organisation’s plans are for waste tyres in the country.
Q: What is the REDISA waste tyre collection plan?
A: The REDISA plan is required to address all waste tyres generated throughout South Africa.
Waste tyres pose a huge problem, with serious environmental repercussions.
In South Africa, the traditional method of dealing with old and used tyres is to dump them at the closest landfill site and, when these piles become too large, they are often burnt, creating large amounts of air pollution.
Manufacturers currently produce approximately 240 000 tons of new tyres per annum, which eventually become waste tyres with no value and have a negative environmental impact.
REDISA would like to remediate the environment and see all the tyres converted to a commodity with a value.
It is for this reason that the plan introduces a “producer pays principle”, which basically means that the manufacturer of goods has a responsibility to provide for the remediation of the environment.
This is not unlike mining companies that allocate funds towards the rehabilitation of the land.
If you create a problem you need to take responsibility for fixing it.
The REDISA plan collects a fee from tyre manufacturers and importers and applies it to establishing and funding a transporter network of largely informal sector participants, establishing depots around the country and providing comprehensive support functions to entrepreneurs.
It is also carrying out R and D education and awareness campaigns.
Given that the plan is focused on the development of a new recycling industry, the funds have thus far been spent on the function and infrastructure required to support and develop the new industry.
In terms of the plan, REDISA was required to start collecting passenger, 4×4 and truck tyres within 10 months of the start, and this target was met.
However, a phased implementation cannot mean that every tyre dealer has a portion of his tyres collected immediately; it means that, as collections roll-out, more and more tyre dealers will be serviced and have all their tyres collected, but others will still have no tyres collected until their area is able to be serviced.
REDISA will publish a geographical roll-out plan, indicating which areas will be serviced when, by the end of this month.
REDISA plans to create about 10 000 jobs through the application of funds, and will support and foster a sustainable tyre recycling industry.
Q: Why is it in effect?
A: It is estimated that there are 60 million legacy waste tyres lying around in the country and 240 000 tons of waste tyres are generated every year. As is evident, tyre waste is a compounding problem.
Because tyres can take hundreds of years to decompose, the best solution is to recycle the material, turning them into something of worth, and that is what REDISA has been tasked to implement.
Q: Is it achieving anything and, if so, what?
A: REDISA is now servicing 70 tyre dealers and has processed 16 207 tons of waste tyres. In addition, in February, REDISA will open its first official depot in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Q: Are there specific plans for the Germiston area? If so what and will this benefit the community?
A: In terms of community benefit, once implemented in the Germiston area it is expected that job creation opportunities in terms of registering as a collector with REDISA, will be opened.
The opportunity to earn additional income through the collection of tyres will reduce the incidences of burning tyres and thereby reduce the health hazards to the community and inject additional income into the local economy.
Q: How can the illegal burning of tyres be stopped?
A: Tyres are being burnt since they are deemed to have no value other than their steel content, which is sold as a means of earning income.
By providing funding for the collection of these tyres, which offers a greater earning potential than the scrap steel value, people seeking to earn additional income will be incentivised to rather apply to be registered as a collector, be allocated a monthly quota and deliver their quota of waste tyres to our depots.
REDISA will work closely with the municipal structures, to ensure that the opportunities are allocated in a fair and transparent manner, and that the number of opportunities are linked to the availability of waste tyres, to ensure sustainability.
Q: What are the health risks involved in burning tyres?
A: Burning tyres release carcinogens into the air and residual unburnt oily pollutants leach into the ground.
Q: Can people contact REDISA to report the burning of tyres (it happens mainly after hours), and can REDISA do anything to stop it?
A: REDISA welcomes information relating to waste tyres.
We are more than willing to address communities on the dangers of burning tyres and would like to promote the concept of “waste into worth”.
This can only be done by allowing individuals to become aware of the income earning opportunities created by the REDISA plan and, once they realise that there is more value in the delivery of the tyres to REDISA than burning them, there will be a reduction in the burning of tyres.
Q: Exactly what does REDISA do?
A: REDISA, through the Integrated Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan, has been tasked to clean South Africa of tyre waste by the Department of Environmental Affairs.
REDISA is responsible for developing and supporting the collectors, storage depots, recyclers and secondary industries that make products from recycler output.
This plan, established and managed by REDISA NPC, will not deal only with the issues of pollution, fire risk and disease, it will also replace the legacy of waste tyres with a new legacy of income-generating opportunities, dignity and hope for thousands of South Africans.
Q: Does REDISA work in conjunction with the local municipality and the local police to try to combat problems of this nature?
A: Yes, REDISA is engaging local municipalities, since we believe that partnerships with municipalities will enhance the effectiveness of our efforts.
We will be piloting our models during the month of February and are working with the municipalities to put these pilot projects in place, to ensure that, together, we are able to rid our communities of the negative impact of waste tyres and ensure that the waste is turned into worth.
