Speaking at an NSW parliamentary inquiry, TSA CEO Lina Goodman called for government procurement programming to help sustain the recycling sector
Government procurement and a stronger product stewardship approach are the keys to unlocking the hundreds of local jobs that can be created by processing and using the 500,000 tonnes (the equivalent of 62.5 million passenger tyres) of used tyres generated in Australia, each and every year.
Speaking at the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Procurement Practices of Government Agencies, Tyre Stewardship Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Lina Goodman said government must use the weight of both its procurement power and product stewardship regulation to drive the investment needed to create circular economy jobs – amplifying Australia’s manufacturing sector and stimulating end markets for recycled products.
Goodman warned that the markets for recycled tyre products have plateaued and are now at risk of failing. “Without the practical and effective interventions by government of both procurement and product stewardship regulation, many of these markets cannot and will not grow.”
By using a product stewardship mindset to procurement, there are some straightforward changes that could be made now that would have significant positive impact, such as mandating crumb rubber in road asphalt, avoiding single-use tyres by supporting retread in government bus fleets and contracts, and by only buying tyres from brands and retailers that are voluntarily participating in Australia’s current voluntary product stewardship scheme.
“Progressive countries and governments have used the weight of government procurement and regulation to successfully create jobs and develop markets using recycled materials.”
Goodman said government procurement and the industry, through Tyre Stewardship Australia, can work in unison to create circular economy jobs that process and re-manufacture products from recycled material.
