Aucklanders can now dispose of their old tyres for free, thanks to a new national product stewardship scheme called Tyrewise.
The Waitākere Refuse & Recycling Transfer Station in Henderson will accept up to five used tyres per customer, per visit - free of charge. Auckland’s tyres will then be used as a substitute for coal in cement making.
The Waitākere transfer station will operate as a public collection site while other tyre retailers and businesses across the region can also register to have tyres picked up by Tyrewise for free.
Auckland Council General Manager Waste Solutions Justine Haves hopes the Tyrewise scheme will “gain traction” and help prevent the dumping of thousands of tyres illegally across Tāmaki Makaurau annually.
“Between July 2022 and July 2024, over 32,000 tyres of all shapes and sizes were dumped illegally on public land across the Auckland region. Now that people can drop off their tyres for free, there should no temptation to dump tyres illegally, or pay someone else to dump them,” Ms Haves says.
“As well as Waitākere transfer station being a drop-off point for Aucklanders to take tyres, we hope this scheme will encourage commercial businesses to register as collection points at no additional cost to their business and encourage more retailers to take advantage of the free disposal service.”
Councillor Richard Hills, Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, says Auckland Council strongly supports product stewardship schemes that ensure resources are reused, repurposed or recycled.
“Well-regulated and mandated national product stewardship schemes have the potential to divert many tonnes of waste from landfill, protect our environment and support economic growth and opportunities,” Cr Hills says.
“We hope to see more product stewardship schemes like Tyrewise applied to other products and sectors, creating a truly circular economy. It is by working together with industry and government that we can get closer to our zero waste vision for Tāmaki Makaurau.”
The Tyrewise scheme is being funded by a tyre stewardship fee added to new tyres, with the aim of ensuring end-of-life tyres are repurposed instead of dumped or stockpiled.
For more information on the Tyrewise scheme go to tyrewise.co.nz
For opening hours and information on the Waitākere Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station.
