Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has withdrawn the approval decision for the Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan (IndWTMP), published on March 20, 2024.

This is to allow for a detailed reassessment, ensuring the plan fully aligns with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE’s) objectives of sustainable waste management and robust governance, he informs.

Since taking office, George says he has prioritised a re-evaluation of decisions made by previous administrations.

“While the IndWTMP was developed through a prolonged and consultative process, concerns have been raised regarding its alignment with current sector realities and policy intent.

“The withdrawal enables a focused review to ensure the final plan is implementable, transparent and fully responsive to the operational and governance complexities facing the sector,” he points out.

The withdrawal, authorised under Section 10(3) of the Interpretation Act, enables the DFFE to revisit the plan.

This process will involve renewed stakeholder engagement and the appointment of an organ of State, likely the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, to refine the plan, addressing areas such as data accuracy and sector capacity.

“My goal is to deliver a waste tyre management plan that is practical, inclusive and future proof. This withdrawal is a proactive step to ensure we get it right, building a stronger foundation for the waste tyre industry and environmental justice,” George asserts.

The department confirms that existing interim arrangements for waste tyre collection and processing will continue, ensuring no disruption to the sector.

Engagements with the National Treasury are under way to secure a sustainable funding model. 

In a separate statement, nonprofit the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) welcomed the withdrawal decision.

"Redisa has publicly called for this materially flawed and self-defeating plan to be scrapped since it started legal proceedings against the plan in September 2024," the entity states.

Redisa says it will be writing to the Minister to request a meeting to discuss how best to manage the country's waste tyre challenge. 

"The IndWTMP was never going to be an effective solution to South Africa's waste tyre crisis. In court documents, Redisa set out how the IndWTMP had unachievable and unrealistic targets, lacked any budget detail, failed to use the information and projections that were available, and was created and approved in a procedurally flawed manner," the entity posits. 

South Africa produces at least 253 000 t/y of waste tyres, which Redisa says is being "mismanaged" by the Waste Bureau under the DFFE.

"Apart from the public health threats caused by the uniquely toxic character of waste tyre pollution, the mismanagement is also a lost opportunity for the South African economy, because, through a well-coordinated recycling process, economic development and job creation can be strengthened considerably," Redisa highlights.