Redisa ceases all tyre collections due to funding | Infrastructure news

The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) has ceased all tyre collection with immediate effect.

Redisa released a statement at the end of last week, citing the implementation of a tyre levy as the reason for its decision. It added that the tyre levy, which came into effect on 1 February 2017, affected its funding model.

Hermann Erdmann, Redisa CEO, said the body has not received any funds since February. He added that until government funding is received, “Redisa has no choice but for the time being to cease tyre collections”.

He said this will entail the following:

– Redisa will no longer collect waste tyres from registered collection points, including micro-collectors

– Redisa depots will remain open but will not be accepting any deliveries

– Deliveries to processors will continue as scheduled until further notice

Erdmann said this was not where Redisa wanted to be. “We informed government in February 2016 that should funding be removed from the industry, wind down would be necessary,” he said. “This financial view was audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on instruction from government.”

He said that based on government communications, Redisa understood that this was “just a change in funding model but that the industry would continue to be funded”. He added that Redisa was taking every possible step to secure the necessary funding to reinstate its tyre collections.

“To this end we have notified the Department of Environmental Affairs of the environmental and business ramifications of ceasing collections,” Erdmann said. “In the minister of finance’s budget review for 2017, R210 million was allocated to the Waste Bureau for Redisa/Waste Bureau and we are engaging with the department to secure the allocation which would allow Redisa to resume collections.”

He added that Redisa was confident that they would come to an amicable settlement with government in finding a way forward. “Our focus is on reaching an agreement that is in the best interest of all parties involved, this includes preserving the jobs and the network created through the Redisa Plan,” he said.

Redisa said it was currently in discussion with government stakeholders and has filed papers in court concerning its current position.

  • All affected parties are recommended to contact the Waste Management Bureau at the Department of Environmental Affairs for further information on legally disposing of waste tyres at wastebureau@environment.gov.za or 012 399 9803, or the DEA call centre on 086 111 2468.

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