Question NW1601 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs

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29 June 2018 - NW1601

Profile picture: Steenkamp, Ms J

Steenkamp, Ms J to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs

(1)What are the reasons for the drastic decline in performance with regard to the Waste Tyre Diversion target vs performance for the 2016-17 financial year; (2) whether the Waste Bureau target to divert 50% of all tyres from landfills in the 2018-19 financial year includes off-the-road (OTR) tyres; if not, (a) how does the Waste Bureau plan to commence with OTR tyre collections, and (b) what is the time-line in this regard; if so, how will the specified target be incorporated into the industry once the plan is approved; (3) whether, in light of the fact that the Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa could not reach the target of diverting 50% of all tyres from landfills with a budget of R520 million, she has found that the Waste Bureau can achieve the specified target with the available budget of R320 million; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of how the Waste Bureau will reach the target; and (4) what is the Waste Bureau’s current options to enable collections and recycling of OTR tyres nationally?

Reply:

1. According to reports received from REDISA, the 2016 volumes were impacted by shortage of depot storage space and slow uptake in demand. The figures also excluded the OTR tyres, and the reporting in the late 2016/17 excluded waste tyre exportation; and when we include the figures for export, the performance exceeds the target.

2. Yes, OTR tyres are included in the target.

(a) Refer to a response in 2 above.

(b) The OTR tyre collections is already taking place, although at the slow pace. The new equipment for pre-processing of OTR tyres has been procured and is expected to be delivered in a month or two. This, together with Waste Bureau actions, will improve waste tyre processing capacity in the near future; and will also enable the organisation to improve OTR collections and processing capacity.

3. The budget will not be sufficient and, in this regard, National Treasury is being engaged.

4. The collection and recycling of OTR is currently taking place, but at a small scale. When the new equipment arrives (referred to in 2b above), then the Waste Bureau will be able to increase the OTR collection and pre-processing rate. The current initiatives by the Waste Bureau to increase the processing capacity (including going out on tender) will lead to an improved OTR recycling rate.

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