BUSH TELEGRAPH

Waste tyres - Government Gazette No.35927
(2012) which details the Integrated Industry
Waste Tyre Management Plan and managed
by REDISA Pty Ltd. A waste tyre management
fee is levied by REDISA on waste tyre
manufacturers and importers, namely R2.30
+ VAT (14%) per kg of manufactured and/or
imported tyres and casings.
The government has prioritised the following
industries for mandatory EPR schemes and
calls for their associated IndWMPs –
• Paper and packaging waste
• WEEE
• Lighting
Industry is very concerned as the Gazetted
Pricing Strategy proposes a Government
managed EPR scheme (EPR tax) for
mandatory EPR schemes with an allowance
for a two year transitional period from the
date of signing of the Pricing Strategy and
that all industry-managed schemes must
align with the Pricing Strategy by becoming
Government-managed schemes. Government
has made it clear that there will be NO ringfencing
of revenue generated & collected
through these schemes thus the funds will
disappear into the government coffers. This
proposal will see the collapse of the voluntary
initiatives which generate over R300million
annually & provide tens of thousands of jobs.
There is also international evidence to suggest
that recycling rates will regress. For example,
in 2012 when the Hungarian state assumed
control from privately run PRO’s, the recycling
rates fell from 59% to 49% within a year!
South Africa’s Packaging Performance –
2013 as supplied by the paper & packaging
industry:
Packaging Type % Recycled in 2013
Paper Packaging & Print 61.8
Metal 65.8
Glass 39.8
Plastics 30.8
Total 51%
We want this to increase, not decrease!
Recycling should be based on free market
conditions with government assistance for
storage and collection of materials, my view
– open for debate!
Happy Recycling!
Sue Beningfield
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