New Zealand’s regulated tire stewardship scheme Tyrewise has collected more than 8 million end-of-life tires since launching in September 2024, marking a major milestone after two years of nationwide operation. The scheme is supported by more than 5,000 registered participants across the automotive industry and is designed to track tires throughout their lifecycle so that they are directed into recycling and repurposing rather than landfill, illegal stockpiles or dumping sites. Tyrewise is New Zealand’s first regulated product stewardship scheme and brings together tire brands, importers, retailers, transporters and recyclers within a coordinated national system. The milestone highlights the growing scale of organized tire collection in the country and the role of producer responsibility in creating more consistent feedstock flows for tire recycling and circular economy applications.

Scheme passes 8 million tire milestone

Tyrewise said more than 8 million end-of-life tires have now been collected through the scheme since its launch in September 2024. The achievement comes just two years after regulated stewardship began operating nationwide.

The organization said responsible management of end-of-life tires is increasingly becoming standard practice across New Zealand’s automotive industry, supported by collaboration among businesses participating in the scheme.

More than 5,000 participants support national network

More than 5,000 registered participants are involved in Tyrewise across New Zealand. The network includes tire brands and importers, automotive businesses, collection points, transporters and organizations involved in processing and repurposing end-of-life tires.

This broad participation gives the scheme national coverage and allows tire movements to be tracked more systematically from the point at which tires enter the market through to their end-of-life management.

Tyrewise aims to prevent dumping and stockpiling

The scheme was established to reduce the number of waste tires entering landfill, illegal stockpiles and uncontrolled dumping sites. End-of-life tires can create environmental and public health risks when they are stored or discarded improperly, while also representing a significant source of recoverable rubber, steel and other materials.

By establishing a dedicated collection and tracking system, Tyrewise aims to ensure that a greater share of New Zealand’s tire waste reaches legitimate recycling or repurposing routes.

Regulated stewardship provides lifecycle traceability

Tyrewise tracks tires through its registered participant network across their lifecycle. The system is intended to provide greater visibility into where tires are collected, transported and ultimately processed.

Traceability is particularly important for tire recycling because it helps prevent collected material from being diverted into uncontrolled disposal or informal stockpiling and provides more reliable information on volumes available to downstream processors.

Industry collaboration underpins scheme

Tyrewise credited the milestone to cooperation across the automotive sector, including tire brands and importers that supported development of the stewardship model, registered participants handling tires, and transport companies moving end-of-life material through the system.

The organization also acknowledged businesses involved in transforming discarded tires into new products and materials, emphasizing that collection alone does not create circularity unless reliable recycling and reuse markets are available.

End markets remain central to tire recycling system

As collection volumes grow, development of domestic markets for tire-derived materials becomes increasingly important. Recycled tire rubber can be used in applications including road construction, permeable surfaces, playgrounds, civil engineering and other manufactured products.

Tyrewise has also been investing in market development projects intended to increase New Zealand’s ability to process and use recovered tire materials locally, reducing dependence on overseas markets and creating higher-value outlets for recycled rubber.

Milestone demonstrates scale of regulated tire stewardship

The collection of more than 8 million end-of-life tires demonstrates the scale that can be achieved through a nationally regulated product stewardship system. Coordinating producers, retailers, collectors, transporters and recyclers can provide a more predictable flow of tire material and make long-term recycling investment easier to support.

For New Zealand’s tire recycling sector, the next stage will depend on ensuring that growing collection volumes are matched by sufficient processing capacity and commercially viable markets for recycled tire rubber and other recovered materials.

Original report by NZ Trucking.