Question NW2536 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
08 November 2018 - NW2536
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1) (a) Does the Waste Bureau intend to own, operate and commercialise the Tyre Derived Fuel (TDF) industry, and (b) will the Waste Bureau (i) allow private companies to process tyres commercially for the waste-to-energy sector and (ii) implement any trade barriers or restrictions on private companies supplying TDF on a commercial basis to the waste-to-energy sector; (2) (a) why has the Waste Bureau set a zero price point for whole tyres delivered to the cement industry, (b) does a zero price point not provide restrictive trade practices and, as such, ensures that the commercialisation of waste to energy is not possible, and (c) how can TDF be commercialised when the Waste Bureau has set a zero price point for delivered tyres; (3) was it the intent of the Waste Bureau to impose restrictive trade practices for the supply of TDF at no cost to cement kilns; (4) what price point has been set for processed waste tyres (TDF) to the cement industry; (5) (a) will the Waste Bureau allow a certain company to enter the waste-to-energy sector, and (b) is the specified company regarded as a competitor by the Waste Bureau?
Reply:
(1) (a) The Waste Bureau supplies waste tyres that are used as TDF, and this is currently to cement kilns and brickworks. TDF plays a major role in ensuring the diversion of waste tyres from landfills, and the Waste Bureau will continue to use TDF opportunities in order to continue improving waste tyre diversion rates. The Waste Bureau may also, from time to time, explore TDF related commercial opportunities as mandated in the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act, 2014 (NEM:WAA 2014).
(b) (i) There is nothing preventing private companies from processing waste tyres for the waste to energy sector, and the Waste Bureau is aware of one private company that already supplies TDF.
(ii) The Waste Bureau does not intend to implement trade barriers or restrictions on private companies supplying TDF on a commercial basis to the waste-to-energy sector
(2) (a) cement kilns gain a cost benefit from replacing coal with tyres.
(b) No
(c) See (a) and (b) above
(3) No
(4) The Waste Bureau, up until now, has only supplied whole passenger tyres to the cement industry (unprocessed), and, therefore, there is no price point that has been set for processed waste tyres (TDF).
(5) (a) The Waste Bureau does not have powers to decide which companies should or should not enter the waste-to-energy sector.
(b) No
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