Ideas sought for local use of waste car tyres

October 4th, 2010
Anita Newport

Parkes Automotive is undertaking a study for the uses of waste tyres. Parkes Automotive is dedicated to sustainable business practices and having already reduced our waste to landfill by 80% since taking over the business 5 years ago, we have taken on the task of doing a study for uses for waste tyres.

Nearly 4 million tyres a year go to landfill a year in NZ. There are a few people who recycle tyres around the country in various methods but we would like to find local iniatives as we beleive that every community should be made aware of the waste that they create and be responsible for that. The other reason we want to find local solutions is that it will reduce the carbon footprint created by transporting tyres around the country as sometimes it gets to the point that recycling something becomes pointless if you are using so much energy to create something else out of a waste product.

We're starting this online forum to hear what people have to say about the waste tyre problem, who they think should be responsible and ideas that they have. I have met with David Clendon (Green MP) and plan to have surveys at the MTA conference in Nelson this year where we will be attending as last years "National Environmental Award" winners.

As the owner of an Automotive Repairs Workshop and Tyre retailer, we're taking responsibility for the waste that our business helps to create and we are using our relationships within the motor trade industry to gather as much information and public discussion as we can which will be put into a report for the Tasman District Council. The tyre problem will never go away .... even hybrids need tyres :-)

If anyone wants to discuss this with me or knows anyone (environmental groups etc) that would be interested in being involved, please let us know.

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