GREEN SCHEME The Responsible Recycler Scheme is a marketbased initiative
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that provides guarantees about the standards employed by the registered collectors involved. Ft is designed to ensure that current disposal opportunities are exploited as fully as possible. A fundamental part of the project is to increase the number of items collected by the trucks which pick up the scrap tyre casings.
The scheme has the support of the tyre industry's major associations such as the Tyre Industry Council, the Retread Manufacturers Association and the National Tyre Dealers Association. Through the combined actions of these, RRS hopes to achieve one of its main objectives—to raise awareness among the general public about the need to recycle tyres and dispose of them ethically. This is particularly important because ethical disposal will cost the motorist more in the future.
USES FOR OLD TYRES The closure of the UK's only tyre-destruction/ energy generating plant at Wolverhampton last year was a major blow to the destruction of used tyre casings in the UK.
The SETA-owned site accounted for more than seven million tyres each year (60,000 tonnes). With no obvious replacement for that plant, and the gradual phasing out of the dumping of any part of a tyre in EU landfill sites by 2006. RRS will find the job of finding more uses for the product of waste tyre casings no easy task.
Current approved methods for disposal of scrap tyres in the UK include: • Retreading/remoulding and regrooving; Ni Crumbing for use as a construction material in playground flooring and carpet backing; Burning as a fuel in cement kilns designed for the purpose;
• Drainage improvement projects and other civil works; • landfill.
The EA estimates that in addition to the 37 million referred to above, there are more than 20 million tyres in tyre dumps across the UK.
CONTACT Tyre Industry Council: 021) 7323 0771. National Tyre Distributors Association: 01296 395933.
British Rubber Manufacturers Association: 020 7457 5040.
Retread Manufacturers Association: 01782 417777.