After more than two years of industry-led research and consultation, Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) has published its report into the use, recovery, and recycling of Australia’s off-the-road tires, conveyors, and tracks (OTR rubber products).

According to TSA, OTR rubber products are critical for the Australian economy. Up to 245,000 tonnes are used and become waste each year, with around 80% of this coming from the mining sector and 10% from agriculture. Regrettably, the vast majority is buried on site, stockpiled, or sent to landfill.

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Image by TSA.

However, used rubber products are a valuable resource, and finding a new life for them offers many environmental, social, and economic benefits, particularly in regional and remote Australia. The Report was funded by the Australian Government’s National Product Stewardship Investment Fund and TSA, which provides a pathway forward for Australia to realise the benefits of OTR tire, conveyor and track resource recovery, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas.

Australia’s options for recovering resources from OTR rubber products are not going to get any clearer or easier. This report provides the evidence.

TSA’s CEO Lina Goodman said, “This report makes it clear that Australia’s persistently low resource recovery rate for OTR rubber products is simply not good enough.”

The report identified 5 key barriers, including:

  • the low perceived costs of on-site disposal,
  • the high costs of logistics and recovery,
  • uncertainty about technologies and waste management approaches,
  • uncertainty about end market size and capacity, and
  • a low priority for tire waste stewardship.

Download the Full Report from TSA’s website.

To find out more about the report, proceed to TSA’s website.