Tyrewise is Aotearoa New Zealand’s first regulated product stewardship scheme for recycling used tyres. The scheme is due to launch in late 2023.
The journey to tyre stewardship
The Tyrewise™ project was set up in 2012 to provide a framework for the development of a stewardship programme to manage end-of-life tyres (ELTs) in New Zealand. Over the next ten years, project managers, 3R Group, worked with industry, Government and Auto Stewardship New Zealand to create a framework for a mandatory stewardship programme for ELTs.
In 2020, tyres were one of the six waste streams confirmed by the then Associate Minister for the Environment, Eugenie Sage, as ‘priority products’ – tyres, synthetic greenhouse gases, agricultural chemicals, farm plastics, e-waste and plastic packaging. This meant that the industry’s desire for a regulated product stewardship programme, which would provide a level playing field, would be realised.
Current situation
Auto Stewardship New Zealand has been awarded $1.2 million from the Waste Minimisation Fund – Te Pūtea Whakamauru Para to implement the Tyrewise programme. This means ASNZ and project implementation manager, 3R Group, can begin to put in place the practical building blocks to allow the scheme to launch in late 2023.
A key aspect of the implementation is a four-month operational trial based from Hawke’s Bay. The trial will ensure the Tyrewise systems, particularly new tyre tracking software, is working correctly.
At the same time, Ministry for the Environment will complete the enactment of the proposed regulations that will require participants to act in accordance with Tyrewise. These regulations are first considered by Cabinet, the final regulations are then gazetted as a Regulation under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008, and then the in-effect dates will be announced. The regulation will set the value of the advanced disposal fee payable by the importers.
Auto Stewardship New Zealand 