The Tyre, Equipment, Parts Association (TEPA) has endorsed a recent reminder from the Waste Bureau emphasizing tyre dealers' legal obligations for proper waste tyre management. The directive addresses growing concerns about compliance with the Waste Tyre Regulations of 2017, which require dealers to follow strict protocols for handling end-of-life tyres.
Vishal Premlall, TEPA's National Director and member of the Waste Tyre Management Industry Advisory Committee, stressed that dealers must segregate and safely store waste tyres, mutilate them to prevent unauthorized reuse, and work exclusively with registered transporters and processors. Most critically, the public resale of waste tyres is prohibited and can result in significant fines and prosecution.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment continues monitoring compliance through regular audits, with enforcement action awaiting those who unlawfully sell, distribute, or dispose of waste tyres. Premlall urged dealers to immediately review their disposal practices and seek assistance from the Waste Bureau or local environmental authorities to verify registered transporters in their areas.
Non-compliance carries severe environmental consequences beyond legal penalties. Illegally stockpiled and dumped tyres create fire hazards, contaminate soil and water with toxic chemicals, and increase disease risks. To combat these issues, TEPA launched a whistleblower hotline in 2023 for reporting illicit activities and continues advocating for an industry compliance forum.
Premlall emphasized that responsible waste management requires collaboration across the entire value chain, including consumers who should dispose of used tyres at registered TEPA dealers. The association remains committed to working with industry stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions that keep South Africa environmentally safe and legally compliant while finding innovative ways to recycle waste tyres into useful materials.
Whistleblower hotline:
https://tepa.org.za/whistleblower/
