TSA urges NT government to act on tyre-derived material usage

The product stewardship organisation for tyres in Australia has said that industry wants to make greater use of tyre-derived materials in the Northern Territory – where only 12 per cent of used tyres are recovered – but the government needed to address barriers to this.

According to Tyre Stewardship Australia-commissioned research, 72 per cent of tyres are recovered nationally. The NT’s “unique features” make it both an ideal testing hub yet a challenging place to recover and recycle tyres.

CEO Lina Goodman said in a statement on Wednesday discussions with state and local government representatives and peak bodies representing agriculture, mining, and civil construction sectors had shown a desire to invest in tyre-derived materials for civil construction.

“But they need confidence that the Territory Government will commit to reducing the barriers currently stopping them from investing and creating jobs in the NT,” said Goodman.

According to the statement from TSA, the following measures were needed to increase the use of material from used tyres:

• Changing road specification to allow for the use of tyre-derived material, already happening across Australia and globally;
• Improving road contract scheduling, providing road and civil contractors the certainty of appropriate contracting periods, creating the confidence to invest in new technologies using tyre derived material;
• Specifying the procurement and use of recycled rubber material in road construction and public works; and
• Supporting investment across the tyre value chain.

“There are quick fixes that government can make now that will have a massive positive impact on using used tyres to make high performing roads and civil infrastructure in the NT, such as changing road specification and contract scheduling,” added Goodman. 

“It’s already well-established practice in other states, creating local investment and jobs using old tyres that would otherwise just be a pile of dumped waste.”

Image credit: ABC News/Damian McIntyre