Abstract
M.A.
Waste management has always been a delegated responsibility, undertaken on behalf of the public by authorities, industry and specialist waste management contractors. In South Africa, there are neither regulations nor measures to deal with the accumulation of used tyres or to control the disposal thereof. Municipalities for example, have no plans in place to deal with used tyres generated and some landfills refuse to dispose of used tyres. As a result, used tyres have been disposed haphazardly, at times stockpiled and burnt and thereby present an environmental problem.
This research investigates discarded tyres as an aspect of solid waste, as well as options that may be taken for their disposal. The research points to the current waste tyre disposal
problems. These disposal problems are a result of the chemical composition of tyres, their
size and shape. It was found that although there has been a proliferation of environmental
legislation, no regulation ensures that discarded tyres are systematically collected for
appropriate disposal. Given the undesirable consequences of inappropriate waste tyre disposal, three recommendations are made:
An integrated national waste management policy, in which a workable public
participation is formalised, will determine the future of used tyre management including
the management of discarded tyres. This requires an attractive incentive to collect and
appropriately dispose of used tyres. Allowance has to be made for entrepreneurs to
determine the most efficient and less expensive way of used tyre disposal to achieve
environmentally desirable outcomes. Non-subsidised markets are therefore recommended.
There are possibilities of using used tyres that are discarded as raw materials in other
industries. Technologies that take advantage of the fuel value and steel in used tyres should be explored and encouraged. Discarded tyres can also be used for some
constructions or in the manufacture of some new products.
¨ South Africa may have to consider legislation for the collection, transfer and reprocessing
of used tyres.
The rate of waste tyre generation is also an outcome of tyre design. The possibility of
producing tyres that are environmentally friendly should be explored. Discussions are taking
place within the tyre manufacturing industries in South Africa to formulate and implement
sustainable plans that will address the problems of waste tyre disposal.