Minerals industry supports national tyre product stewardship scheme

The industry-led tyre product stewardship scheme is an important and practical first step in developing a co-ordinated national response to the management of end of life tyres.

Oversize and standard passenger vehicle tyres are a significant by-product of the minerals industry’s operations. By volume, the industry uses approximately 30 per cent of Australia’s tyre stock. While current minerals industry practice does not pose risks to the environment, the industry recognises that improved solutions to the challenge of end of life tyres are needed.

Under the National Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme, a voluntary levy will fund research and development to improve the way tyres are managed within operations and to develop innovative solutions to the unique challenges of end of life tyres.

MCA members are committed to responsible tyre design, use, reuse, recycling and disposal. The MCA looks forward to working closely with Tyre Stewardship Australia to support the development of sustainable, market based solutions for the minerals industry in Australia and commercial applications that can be exported worldwide.

The National Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme is one of a wide range of stewardship initiatives actively supported by the Australian minerals industry. These initiatives are aimed at continuously improving the way materials are managed within mining operations and to ensure the responsible management of the essential products the industry produces beyond the mine gate.

In addition, they seek to minimise the resource intensity of mineral extraction and ensure that opportunities for recovery, recycling and reuse are maximised through proper management of waste streams.

Source: Minerals Council of Australia