New Zealand’s regulated tire product stewardship scheme Tyrewise has reported more than 65,700 tonnes of end-of-life tires collected during its second annual reporting period, equivalent to approximately 8.2 million tires. The October 2026 annual report is the first to cover a full 12 months of nationwide collections and shows that Tyrewise has expanded its network to 5,444 registered partner locations while increasing public collection sites by 26% compared with the previous reporting period. The scheme also reports that more than 34,500 tonnes of collected tires were processed into tire-derived products and fuel. With the collection network now established, Tyrewise says its next phase will focus more heavily on building domestic markets for recycled tire materials, particularly rubber-modified bitumen for roads, while also improving transport efficiency, supporting retreading and funding new tire recycling applications through its Puna Taurima program.

Tyrewise completes first full year of collections

The second Tyrewise annual report, released on October 21, 2026, covers the first complete 12-month period of collections under New Zealand’s regulated tire stewardship system.

Tyrewise Scheme Manager 3R Group said the longer reporting period provides a more complete view of how end-of-life tires move through the national system, from entry into the New Zealand market through collection, transport, processing and final recovery.

More than 65,700 tonnes of tires collected

By the end of the reporting period, Tyrewise had collected more than 65,700 tonnes of end-of-life tires, equivalent to around 8.2 million tires.

The scheme says these volumes are now being directed into managed recovery pathways rather than being lost to landfill or inconsistent disposal routes.

More than 34,500 tonnes processed into products and fuel

Tyrewise reports that more than 34,500 tonnes of collected end-of-life tires were processed into tire-derived products and fuel during the reporting period.

These recovery routes create outlets for rubber and other tire-derived materials while supporting the scheme’s wider objective of building a circular economy for tires in New Zealand.

Registered partner network grows to 5,444 locations

The number of registered partner locations increased from 4,624 to 5,444 during the reporting period.

The network includes businesses and organizations involved in importing, selling, collecting, transporting and processing tires, forming the operational infrastructure required to move end-of-life tires through the regulated stewardship system.

Public collection network expands by 26%

Tyrewise also increased the number of public collection sites by 26% compared with the previous annual reporting period.

Public sites allow consumers to return limited quantities of end-of-life tires without paying an additional disposal fee, complementing collection through registered tire retailers and fitting businesses.

Public support rises from 66% to 77%

A survey included in the annual report found that public positivity toward Tyrewise increased from 66% to 77%.

The scheme also reports that registered partners generally understand their responsibilities, feel confident in their roles and rate transport services positively. Tyrewise says consumers who are aware of the scheme are also showing greater understanding of tire recycling and are more likely to report recycling their tires.

Data tracking supports operational decisions

Tyrewise was designed as a data-rich product stewardship system, tracking tire imports, collection volumes, transport movements and final recovery pathways.

The scheme says this information is increasingly being used to make operational and financial decisions. One example involved analyzing the effect of rising fuel prices on transporter costs so that adjustments could be based on actual scheme data rather than assumptions.

Focus shifts from collection network to domestic markets

Auto Stewardship New Zealand, the product stewardship organization and governing body for Tyrewise, says the emphasis is now shifting from establishing the collection network toward developing stronger markets for the material being recovered.

ASNZ Chair Mark Gilbert said that with the operational network functioning, the next challenge is to create sustainable domestic demand for tire-derived materials.

Puna Taurima receives 33 formal funding applications

Puna Taurima, the Tyrewise Fund, opened for expressions of interest in June 2025 and attracted strong interest during its first funding round.

A Grants Committee was established and evaluated 33 formal applications. Contracts for successful applicants were still being finalized at the end of the annual reporting period, although several funding awards have since been announced.

Rubber-modified roads become major priority

Tyrewise identifies rubber in roads as one of the most immediate high-value opportunities for expanding domestic use of recycled tire material.

An action plan commissioned from WSP examines barriers preventing wider adoption of rubber-modified bitumen and sets out a pathway for using between 16,000 and 18,000 tonnes of recycled tire rubber in New Zealand roads.

Roading plan helps shape market development funding

The WSP action plan has become a central element of Tyrewise’s engagement with road authorities, contractors and other infrastructure stakeholders.

It also helped shape priorities within Puna Taurima, with several funded projects focused on developing and demonstrating applications for recycled tire rubber in roads and related infrastructure.

Rubberized bitumen could create significant domestic outlet

If barriers to wider adoption are addressed, rubber-modified bitumen could provide one of New Zealand’s largest domestic markets for material recovered through tire recycling.

Large-scale road applications can consume substantial quantities of crumb rubber while offering a recurring outlet linked to road maintenance and construction programs.

Transport efficiency remains another focus

Tyrewise says improving transport efficiency will remain an important part of the scheme’s next phase.

End-of-life tires are bulky relative to their weight, making collection and transport a significant cost component, particularly in remote areas. Better routing, load optimization and processing logistics can therefore improve both economic and environmental performance.

Retreading working group planned

The scheme also intends to establish a working group focused on tire retreading.

Retreading extends the useful life of suitable tire casings before they enter the recycling stream and can reduce demand for new raw materials, particularly in commercial truck and bus applications.

Risk framework updated using operational experience

Tyrewise is also refreshing its risk management framework based on experience gained during the first two years of operation.

The scheme says real-world collection and processing data now provide a stronger basis for identifying operational, financial and market risks than was available during the original design phase.

Regulated stewardship system now embedded across industry

New Zealand’s tire stewardship regulations came into effect in March 2024, with nationwide end-of-life tire collections commencing in September that year.

The scheme requires tire importers and sellers to participate, while transporters and processors are also registered within the system. A stewardship fee collected when new tires enter the market finances collection and recovery after those tires reach end of life.

Second year moves Tyrewise toward market development phase

The second annual report indicates that Tyrewise is moving from its initial emphasis on building a nationwide collection and logistics system toward creating long-term demand for recovered tire materials.

With more than 8 million end-of-life tires already collected, the next stage will depend increasingly on expanding domestic tire recycling markets capable of converting those volumes into rubberized roads, manufactured products, fuel and other productive applications.

Original report by Tyrewise.