Govt: $130k for tyre recycling research

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Govt: $130k for tyre recycling research

3News NZ

New Zealand puts 3.4 million tyres into landfills every year

New Zealand puts 3.4 million tyres into landfills every year

Watch the video for Tova O'Brien's 6pm report

More than $130,000 is being given to a product recycling organisation to research the options for recycling used tyres.

Environment Minister Nick Smith announced this afternoon that the Product Stewardship Foundation will receive $133,000 “to explore recycling options for used tyres”.

The Product Stewardship Foundation is an organisation which researches ways to reduce the environmental impact of manufactured products.

Dr Smith says the funding will help “identify the best way for New Zealand to recycle and re-use our used tyres”.

“We have a significant environmental problem in New Zealand with the disposal of about 4 million tyres annually at the end of their useful life.

“Eighty-five percent of those tyres end up in landfills where they leach contaminates that pose a long term risk to the environment. We need to find economic ways in which these used tyres can be put to better use,” he says.

He says the tyres could be used for road surfacing products, converting them into floor tiles, useable fuels and recycling the steel.

“This project is about working with industry to see whether a cost-effective solution can be found,” the minister says,

A report will be given to the Government in April 2013 outlining the options available.

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Comments

28/09/2012 5:37:16 a.m.

Graham wrote:

I am a kiwi boy living in Missouri, I am in the alternative energy industry. I know of several companies in the States that make machines that process the tires by way of paralysis. The tires are separated car, truck, wheel loader, tractor tyres and so on because the by-products have different markets the oil, steel and carbon is extracted the markets for the by-products are endless, there are no emissions into the atmosphere. There is no reason for any country to have a used tire problem. These companies have full financial business models so any investor can locate this plant central to its market place. The payback is within 5 years most corporate companies will only entertain 3 years but if the local councils and an investor with an joint venture can fix this problem.

19/07/2012 9:51:28 p.m.

Toni wrote:

I could use about 100 of these tyre's in my garden right now as planter pots and for growing potatoes, a lot of community gardens could use these tyre's too, here is a link to a Christchurch community garden already using tyre's: http://www.starcanterbury.co.nz/news/community-gardens-pick-crop/1362620/

15/03/2012 12:03:49 p.m.

Carey wrote:

Why not use some of the larger tires like those from trucks and tractors as planters? My family use them as raised vege gardens, and flower beds. I know it wont solve the whole problem, but its a start, and a cheap alternative to building wooden planters.

14/03/2012 9:51:48 p.m.

RA wrote:

Wow , they really are serious about this problem...... what a joke.

14/03/2012 7:14:43 p.m.

pondering wrote:

Earthship homes. Use the tyres as construction materials for sustainable homes. Tyres make the base of solid , strong , long wearing attractive earth homes and structures.

14/03/2012 6:40:16 p.m.

Mike wrote:

there is a company in chch, that chops up the tyres and sends them overseas. I think it's name is scrap tyres but could confirm the name if someone wanted to follow this up

14/03/2012 5:29:16 p.m.

Alan wrote:

Well Mr Nick Smith would you like to tell us who is in charge of this foundation and what they have achieved so far.
There seems to be no claim as to what can be done, a large claim that we put 4ml into rubbish tips, a large photo of tyres and very little in achievement