Taking care of used tyres

This year is rapidly nearing its end with only one working week left for many … Followed by vacation bliss, which tends to go past a lot faster than we’d like. But 2014 offers a lot to look forward to – starting with Tyrexpo Africa, which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre from March 4 to 6.

The event will play host to a waste tyre collection initiative that seeks to establish a sustainable collection infrastructure to deal with the 10 million used tyre casings generated in South Africa each year.

Commenting on the decision to exhibit at Tyrexpo Africa, the Recycling Economic Development Initiative of South Africa’s (Redisa’s) CEO, Hermann Erdmann, says: “As a meeting place for domestic and international tyre manufacturers, importers and distributors, Tyrexpo Africa is a good platform to promote and explain our plans. There are an estimated 60 million scrap tyres across South Africa, but we currently have no organised or sustainable infrastructure to collect and dispose of them.”

But this is set to change as Redisa, through a government approved plan, will support and promote tyre recycling by providing the infrastructure required to collect waste tyres from across the country and deliver them to approved recyclers.

“By working with all parties involved in the tyre business we have the opportunity to address a major environmental problem, while creating thousands of sustainable jobs,” notes Erdmann.

Redisa states that the recycling initiative will create 10 000 new jobs and bring 5 000 existing people within the network – many of whom are operating illegally – into the plan. It will also offer advice, training and support for entrepreneurs.

Welcoming Redisa to the show, Paul Farrant, managing director of exhibition organiser ECI International, adds: “Through our other international events, we have worked with waste tyre collection and recycling organisations around the world and are confident that the show will provide a powerful platform for Redisa to reinforce its plans for the South African market.”