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What to do with old tyres has long been one of biggest headaches when it comes to waste disposal, but a new national initiative aims to end the problem once and for all with a network of free collection and drop-off points.
Under the Tyrewise scheme, drivers can leave worn-out tyres with registered fitters when new ones are bought, or take up to five old tyres to public collection sites free of charge.
In Auckland, the first free drop-off point is the Waitākere Refuse & Recycling Transfer Station in Henderson, with more being planned for the future.
In addition, tyre retailers and businesses across the region can register to have worn out tyres picked up by Tyrewise for free.
At the moment, around 40 per cent of the 6.5 million tyres Kiwis use every year are recycled, repurposed or used as tyre-derived fuel, but the majority end up stockpiled, dumped or in landfill.
Council’s general manager for waste solutions, Justine Haves, said she hoped the Tyrewise scheme would prevent the dumping of thousands of tyres illegally across Tāmaki Makaurau every year.
“Between July 2022 and July this year, more than 32,000 tyres of all shapes and sizes were dumped illegally on public land across the Auckland region,” she said. “Now that people can drop off their tyres for free, there should be no temptation to dump tyres illegally, or pay someone else to dump them.”
Haves added that council hoped the scheme would also encourage commercial businesses to register as collection points and take advantage of the free disposal service themselves.
Tyrewise is funded by the Ministry of Environment collecting stewardship fees on all new tyres entering New Zealand, whether they are loose or on vehicles, and anyone who imports or sells tyres must be registered.
The project, which launched in March, aims to have 80 per cent of old tyres collected and processed after four years, and 90 per cent by year six.
Worn out tyres in Auckland will be used as a substitute for coal in cement making, used to fire production kilns.
Chair of council’s planning, environment and parks committee, Councillor Richard Hills, applauded the launch of Tyrewise as an important step towards zero waste.
“Well-regulated and mandated national product stewardship schemes have the potential to divert many tonnes of waste from landfill, protect our environment and support economic growth and opportunities,” he said.
“We hope to see more product stewardship schemes like Tyrewise applied to other products and sectors, creating a truly circular economy.”
Local registered tyre suppliers include Auto Super Shoppe, Bridgestone, Duffs, Goodyear, Warkworth Auto Wreckers and Warkworth Motorcycles in Warkworth; Bridgestone and Doidges in Wellsford; and Autohaus European in Snells Beach.
Disposal costs at local refuse, recycling and transfer stations currently cost between $5 and $15 per car tyre.
