Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy has unpacked the Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan (IWTMP), which was recently approved by Cabinet and which is aimed at addressing several challenges faced by the waste tyre sector.

Some of the sector’s most prominent challenges include limited local processing capacity, storage depot limitations and logistical constraints.

The IWTMP provides a comprehensive framework for the efficient and effective management of waste tyres in a circular manner. It serves as subordinate legislation to the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 2008, and is enforceable on all the identified role-players.

Creecy elaborates that the plan outlines objectives such as full waste tyre collection, development of processing capacity and monitoring systems to track progress.

The Waste Management Bureau (WMB) will be tasked with monitoring the implementation of the IWTMP, as well as providing support for the implementation of municipal waste management plans and capacity-building programmes.

Creecy states that the IWTMP will result in new waste tyres being progressively diverted from storage and historic stockpiles being processed.

Government envisions that the private sector will help develop additional processing capacity, supported by government initiatives.

The WMB will contract three dedicated regional implementers to manage the logistics and depot management elements of the value chain through contracted service providers.

Creecy explains that the IWTMP creates entrepreneurial opportunities for small, medium-sized and microenterprises, including through the expansion of micro-collection and micro-depot networks across all provinces.

She affirms that these businesses will be supported by the departments of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Small Business Development to take advantage of opportunities stemming from the expansion and more effective delivery of the waste tyre value chain.

To this end, an existing memorandum of understanding between the departments will be expanded to specifically include waste tyres.

The IWTMP ultimately aims to achieve 100% waste tyre coverage, complete waste diversion and support of new small businesses across the waste tyre value chain.