At a meeting on 29 April the IWTC resolved Statements of Intent:

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1 17. DISPOSAL OF TYRES RR 8046 Officer responsible Waste Manager Author David Harris, Solid Waste Project Engineer Corporate Plan Output: Solid Waste, Burwood Landfill The purpose of this report is to seek approval for a new policy for the disposal of used tyres at the refuse stations and Burwood Landfill. BACKGROUND In March a report was presented to the Council explaining that existing markets for tyre disposal in the rural sector for silage pit covering were rapidly declining. And furthermore that the disposal of tyres at the landfill site was not an acceptable option because of the way tyres float to the surface. Council resolved that: 1. A prohibition on the acceptance of tyres at the Transfer Stations and Burwood Landfill would be extended until a new charging regime could be put in place. 2. The Chairman and two other members of the City Services Committee were to meet with representative of the local tyre industry to discuss a reasonable price for the disposal of tyres through Council facilities, with a report on the outcome being reported back to Council through the City Services Committee. 3. The Recovered Materials Foundation and tyre industry representatives were to develop a policy for environmentally sound disposal methods for second hand tyre, with a report back to the City Services Committee within three months. After discussion with the City Services Committee Chairman it was agreed that the Recovered Materials Foundation (RMF) and Council staff would carry out the initial discussions with industry representatives with respect to the second resolution and if successful would continue to work on the long term disposal policy required under the third resolution. Establishment of the Industry Waste Tyre Committee Following a meeting on 3 April between representatives from the tyre retailers, manufactures, importers and recyclers, RMF and Council staff an Industry Waste Tyre Committee (IWTC) was established to work through the issues of disposing used tyres. At a meeting on 29 April the IWTC resolved Statements of Intent: 1. The IWTC recognises that waste tyres are a problem and a long-term solution is the desirable outcome. 2. The IWTC wishes to work with the RMF and the Waste Management Unit of the Christchurch City Council in finding long and short-term solutions for the waste tyre problem.

2 3. The IWTC agrees that they will encourage the businesses they represent to process tyres for landfill to a minimum specification (minimum cost) to be agreed with the Waste Management Unit. 4. The IWTC recognises the Waste Management Unit s target to cease landfilling cut tyres before the closure of Burwood Landfill. The IWTC agrees that alternative options for waste tyres take precedence over landfilling, with the primary focus being to develop value added end uses. 5. The IWTC agrees to meet regularly to (a) Consider progress, and (b) Indicate further steps Interim Specification For Tyre Waste In May the Council adopted an interim specification for the disposal of tyre waste (ie cut or shredded tyres) at the Burwood Landfill while maintaining the ban on whole tyre disposal. The specification was intended to provide an interim solution to the tyre disposal problem the industry was experiencing while long term solutions were investigated. INDUSTRY WASTE TYRE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TYRE WASTE The Recovered Materials Foundation, in conjunction with the Industry Waste Tyre Committee and Council staff, have produced a comprehensive report on options for utilising waste tyres for reuse, recycling or resource recovery schemes. The key findings of the report follow. The reuse of tyre casings for retreading is the main area where tyres can be reused. Tyres are also reused by the farming industry to hold down silage pit covers. However the number of tyres required for this is reducing as the use of silage wraps increases. Currently tyre waste recycling consists of using fine rubber chip, obtained from buffing tyres during the retreading process, for the production of rubber matting which is used for a variety of purposes including safety mats. There is a possibility that further uses or markets for rubber chips could eventuate. However the cost of the plant required to produce the chips is in the order of 2 million dollars and given the limited market at present it is unlikely that a company will proceed with such a venture in the near future. The best option for use of tyre waste appeared to be its use as a tyre derived fuel and this is its predominant use overseas. Tyre waste has a high calorific value, similar to medium grade coals. A local rubber company has trialed the use of a mixture of shredded tyres and coal but has found the operating temperatures of its boilers is too low for proper combustion of the waste. The use of tyre derived fuel (TDF) in cement kilns at Westport has been looked at but there is a high cost involved in adapting the furnaces to burn rubber and the quantity of TDF available from Christchurch, a maximum of 2,000 tonnes a year, would not warrant the expenditure involved. It would require a guaranteed annual quantity equivalent to all the waste tyres from New Zealand to make the conversion viable and then only if it did not have to meet the cost of processing and transporting the waste.

3 As a result it appears that, for at least the immediate future, landfilling of tyre waste is the most practical way of dealing with waste tyres. By shredding the tyres, the waste can be usefully used as part of the landfill daily operations in the form of alternative daily cover, site roads and drainage material. For this reason the tyre industry should be encouraged to support the development of a local tyre shredding industry. By using a range of disposal charges for tyre wastes in different forms, local business will encouraged to set up shredding operations. This would maximise the beneficial use of tyre waste in landfill operations and as shredding is the first step towards most other uses of used tyres, would put industry in a better position for further development. The Waste Tyre Industry Committee acknowledges that shredding of tyres is preferable to cutting tyres into several pieces. However setting up a shredder will take time and capital and they have requested that the Council continue accepting cut tyres at the landfill subject to the conditions set out in the interim criteria approved in May. These criteria, set out below, would be for the period up to the time the Burwood Landfill closes which is likely to be mid Acceptance criteria at any new landfill, probably after mid 2002 will depend on the location, joint venture arrangements and transportation methods. Proposed Acceptance Criteria For Cut Tyres (Rates shown below are current rates including GST.) 1. The Council may limit the quantity of tyre waste to a maximum of 25 tonnes per disposer per week at its discretion. 2. Tyre waste must be taken direct to the Burwood Landfill and will not be accepted at the transfer stations. 3. Acceptance of tyre waste at Burwood must comply with the following specification. Tyres must be shredded or cut as detailed below in order to be accepted from commercial operators. Shredded tyres, where the maximum particle size is 200 mm square or less will be accepted at the rate of $16.00 per tonne. This tyre waste must be dumped in designated areas to allow it to be used to supplement daily cover material. Shredded tyres where the maximum particle size exceeds 200 mm but is less than 450 mm will be accepted at the normal rate for commercial waste of $43.38 per tonne.

4 Normal passenger car tyres that have either had both sidewalls removed or have been cut into six equal pieces will be accepted at the normal rate for commercial waste of $43.38 per tonne. Tyres that have only been split along the centre of the tread will not be accepted. Truck, tractor or any other tyres larger than normal passenger car tyres will require cutting so the maximum particle size is less than 450 mm across. 4. In order to further evaluate options for disposing of tyres in the future the Council may at its discretion reduce the disposal cost of some specified tyre wastes temporarily to provide an incentive for businesses to provide material required for investigations. Whole Tyres The Waste Tyre Industry Committee also recommends that the Council charges a disposal fee for whole tyres. This will give private businesses confidence to invest in a shredder, and possibly develop long term recycling options for recycling tyres. The recommended charge was $2.00 (incl GST) per tyre and would apply at the Burwood landfill and transfer stations. Investigations into tyre shredding costs have indicated that a fee of $2.00 would cover the cost of shredding, transporting and dumping the tyres. Proposals for shredding whole tyres received at council facilities would be requested with preference being given to operations which allowed for future recycling options. Tyre retailers have advised that they will be passing these new costs on to their customers and if the Council adopts the suggested tyre disposal fee they would like the Council to assist in providing some advertising advising why the dumping charge has been applied. It is suggested that be done through public notices, an article in City Scene and brochures being made available through tyre retailers setting out the reasons for the disposal charge. Tyre Stockpiles The Industry Waste Tyre Committee also supported the introduction of controls of tyre stockpiles. There have been instances, both in New Zealand and overseas, where companies have been paid to dispose of tyres but have stockpiled tyres and then abandoned them. Development of regulations on tyre stockpiles is a regional issue and needs discussions with District Councils and the Canterbury Regional Council. Council staff will pursue this and report back to Council. SUMMARY The community is faced with a problem of how to dispose of used tyres in an environmentally acceptable way. Traditional use options are dwindling and disposal at landfills is unacceptable, because of the propensity for whole tyres to float to the surface.

5 The RMF, Council Staff and tyre industry representatives have met to discuss options and develop an acceptable policy for tyre disposal. It appears that recycling options for tyre are limited and that landfill disposal of tyres is likely to be the only practical option in the immediate future. Whole tyres need to be cut or shredded prior to landfilling. Shredded tyres can be used for alternative daily cover and temporary roads at the landfill so shredding should be encouraged through differential disposal costs. The Council should charge for disposal of whole tyres at a rate which covers full disposal costs and provides incentives for companies to establish shredding and recycling operations. Investigations into ways of controlling tyre stockpiles needs to continue on a regional basis. The Industry Waste Tyre Committee supports the above actions and recommends a disposal fee of $2.00 per tyre be charged at Council facilities. Recommendation: 1. That cut or shredded tyres meeting the specification in this report be accepted at Burwood Landfill until recycling options become available or until the landfill closes. 2. That a charge of $2.00 per tyre be introduced for whole tyres disposed of at the Burwood Landfill and refuse stations. 3. That an advertising campaign be carried out advising the public of the charge and the reasons for it. 4. That the RMF, Council staff and tyre industry representatives continue to seek better disposal options for tyres. 5. That investigations into ways of controlling tyre stockpiles proceed. Chairman s Recommendation: 1. That the above recommendation be adopted. 2. That the Council express its appreciation to the Recovered Materials Foundation and other IWTC members for their work in developing the above agreed policy and charging recommendations.