Country’s waste tyre plan in a cul-de-sac for now
THE APPROVAL by the environmental affairs department of the waste tyre plan of the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) is under threat.
Environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa yesterday gave notice that she was considering the possible withdrawal of Redisa’s integrated industry waste tyre management plan for multiple reasons, including Redisa’s failure to achieve its objectives and the lack of proper governance and/or accountability.
Redisa yesterday confirmed it had ceased all waste tyre collections with immediate effect following the change in the Redisa funding model effective from February 1 this year.
Redisa recommended all affected parties to contact the Waste Management Bureau at the Department of Environmental Affairs for further information on legally disposing of waste tyres.
It is the only approved waste tyre plan for the country, a status that was previously challenged by both the SA Tyre Manufacturing Conference and the Retail Motor Industry Organisation. It was approved in 2012 and expires at end-November this year.
Hermann Erdmann, the chief executive of Redisa, confirmed yesterday that Redisa had “filed papers in court with regards to its position”.
In a notice published in the Government Gazette, members of the public were invited to submit written representations or objections about the possible withdrawal of the Redisa’s plan.
Molewa gave an assurance that she was acting in the best interest of the tyre management industry and the public and would endeavour to manage this process and its outcomes “with the requisite diligence and care to ensure that the recycling tyre industry will not be compromised”.
Redisa’s decision to cease all waste tyre collections follows the implementation effective from February 1 this year of an environmental tyre levy through the Customs and Excise Act.
This resulted in the prescribed levy of R2.30 a kilogram excluding VAT being paid to the SA Revenue Service (Sars) instead of directly to Redisa.
Erdmann claimed Redisa had not been allocated any funds post February 1.
“As a result of not having received any funding, and until, and if, government funding has been received, Redisa has no choice but, for the time being, to cease tyre collections,” he said.
Erdmann said this meant Redisa would no longer collect waste tyres from registered collection points, including micro-collectors; Redisa depots would remain open but would not be accepting any deliveries; and deliveries to processors would continue as scheduled until further notice.
The SA Tyre Manufacturers Conference, the representative body of the domestic tyre manufacturing industry, had consistently advocated for the direct payment of the levy to Sars. It said this would support of government’s efforts to achieve improved transparency, accountability, monitoring and evaluation.