Tyre Recycling Offers Lifeline in South Africa

It’s been a tough time for South Africa of late, both the global financial crisis and the breakdown of the mining sector have battered it’s economy and put unemployment at near 25%. Some good news is how tyre recycling in South Africa is offering employment to those hardest hit, namely the young (15-24 yr olds), women, and black Africans.

Since 2012 the REDISA (Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa) has diverted 125,000 tones of scrap tyres from landfill into new supply chains. The scheme has been government back, and they subsidise the collection and recycling process. The project has created over 2,500 jobs and supports 190 small to medium enterprises in South Africa.

Before the scheme was introduced the recycling rate was around 4%, and it now stands at an impressive 19%!

The government recoups the cost of the scheme by passing on a weight based levy charge to Manufacturers of tyres within South Africa, and to any individual or company importing tyres into the country.

The scheme has proved good for the environment as less rubber ends up in landfill & REDISA is working alongside universities to explore new technologies for waste tyres.

But the real benefit of the scheme is seen in the fact that 98% of the jobs created have benefited disadvantaged individuals (37% are women and 41% are young employees). REDISA are keeping up their efforts and hope that 2015 continues to see their impressive figures keep moving to the upside.