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TSA News > 69% of Australia’s end-of-life tyres recovered for further use – 2018-19 Australian Tyre Consumption & Recovery
69% of Australia’s end-of-life tyres recovered for further use – 2018-19 Australian Tyre Consumption & Recovery
9 April 2020
Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) has completed a report which gives a more accurate picture of what is happening to end of use tyres and there is some promising news.
69% of the 466,000 tonnes of end of use tyres generated in Australia in 2018 – 19 were recovered for reuse or processing into tyre derived products or in thermal processing. View the visual fact sheet here
That’s the equivalent of 40.3 million old car tyres. “This is the most comprehensive report on end of life tyres to date,” said the CEO of TSA, Lina Goodman.
Previous reports were unable to account for the destination of all end of life tyres. According to TSA’s last annual report, this was an estimated 43% of all tyres generated.
“This knowledge gap is shrinking,” Ms Goodman said. “We have been able to come up with a far more accurate snapshot following extensive stakeholder engagement with more than 40 representatives across the supply chain.”
According to the report, in 2018 – 19 an estimated 323,00 tonnes (the equivalent of 40.3 million car tyres or 69%) went to productive outcomes.
Of this:
- 85,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 10.6 million used car tyres) for reuse
- 190,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 23.8 million) for processing into tyre derived products
- 48,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 5.9 million) for use whole in thermal processing
An estimated 130,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 16.2 million used car tyres or 28% of all old tyres generated) ended up in landfill or were buried on-site , a number that is shrinking every year. Around 13,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 1.6 million used car tyres or 3% of those generated) were dumped or stockpiled.
Most passenger and motor-cycle tyres were recovered at a rate of 89%. Truck and bus tyres were also recovered at a rate of 89%. Off-road tyres, like those used in the mining sector, were recovered at a rate of 11%.
“These recovery rates paint a very positive picture of how Australia’s tyre recovery industry is performing, and accredited participants under the tyre stewardship scheme have played a huge role in obtaining these results.
“We are meeting National Waste Policy Action Plan targets for passenger and truck tyres, but we can obviously do a lot better when it comes to off-road tyres,” Ms Goodman said.
TSA believes the imminent ban on exporting end of life tyres will lead to even better recovery rates and drive innovation and local investment. Of the estimated 323,00 tonnes recovered in 2018 – 19, 259, 000 tonnes (the equivalent of 33.3 million old car tyres) were exported.
Tyre Stewardship Australia was formed five years ago to implement the national Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme which promotes the development of viable markets for end-of-life tyres.
It’s a voluntary scheme, made up of representatives from across the tyre supply chain including tyre retailers, manufacturers, auto-brands, recyclers and collectors.
TSA has committed $5M to a wide range of Australian projects using waste tyres including horse racing tracks, car parks, sports grounds, playgrounds and even blast proof construction materials.
A copy of the full report will be released in February. To receive a copy please register at info@tyrestewardship.org.au
For further information please contact Marissa Johnston Phone – (03) 9977 7821