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Redisa collects 17,000 tons of waste tyres

http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/science/2014/08/11/redisa-collects-17000-tons-of-waste-tyres

by Andiswa Maqutu

MORE than 17,000 tons of tyres have been collected and diverted from landfills in the country by the government-backed Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) over the seven months to June 2014, it said on Friday.

The bulk of the tyres, more than 4,000 tons, were removed from within Gauteng. More than 3,000 tons waste tyres were removed from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. In each of the other provinces, more than 1,000 tones of tyres were removed.

According to Redisa, there are 60-million to 100-million scrap tyres stockpiled in the country. The tyres are a fire hazard, pollute the environment and are breeding grounds for disease-spreading insects such as mosquitoes.

Last year, a technical team from the SA National Civic Organisation said it would start working on a pilot tyre-recycling operation in Tshwane. The move was the first step in partnering with Redisa in the rollout of tyre recycling in South Africa.

The roll-out has been delayed by litigation over the legality of a plan tabled by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa. The plan requires tyre producers and importers to pay a levy on new tyres to Redisa. This levy was previously paid by motorists.

Redisa has 11 depots which are operational nationwide. The tyre removing initiative had created 743 jobs over the period from December 1 2013 to end June 2014, according to Redisa.

Registered transporters will become more active in collecting tyres from more dealers and collection points in South Africa as Redisa’s five-year plan is implemented. There are also 73 small, medium and micro enterprises transporter operations collecting tyres in line with the Redisa plan.

In addition, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s botany department has started with field trials to test the usage of recycled rubber from tyres, as a soil ameliorant for plant used in landscape rehabilitation.

Redisa has encouraged all members of the public who are aware of tyre stockpiles to contact the initiative.