International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

29.3.4 Denmark
In 1995, the Ministry of Environment and Energy entered an agreement with the
Danish Motor Trade Association and the Association of Danish Recycling Industries to
implement a charge on the purchase of new tyres. The agreement also included a
minimum recycling target of 80% by 2004. The charge is used to help implement the
ban on the landfill of tyres (through the Landfill Directive).
The enhanced producer responsibility scheme is operated by the Danish Tyre Trade
Environmental Foundation, which uses the revenue accrued by the scheme to fund
the transport and recycling of waste tyres.
29.4 Pre-implementation / Evaluation Studies Available
Our research has yet to discover any pre or post implementation studies.
29.5 Environmental Benefits
Dependant on the locality, and therefore the scheme aims, the main environmental
benefits delivered through this policy can vary. Many programmes have the common
aim of promoting the recycled tyres industry and reducing the overall total number of
tyres stockpiled. Stockpiling tyres can give rise to major fires.
Another additional environmental benefit might be assumed to be the increased takeup
of retreaded tyres over new tyres. This, however, has not been quantified as yet. In
any case, the retreaded tyre market is strongly influenced by the price of purchasing
primary tyres, and these have become more competitive over the last decade.
Table 29-2 demonstrates the performance of the Danish product charge from 1995-
2000. Set against a target of an 80% collection rate, the scheme appears to have
achieved and bettered its target rate from 1995-2000. Table 29-3 below highlights
how collected materials have been dealt with.
Table 29-2: Performance of the Danish Product Charge 1995 - 2000
Used tyres covered by
the scheme (tonnes)
Collected tyres
(tonnes)
512
29/09/09
2nd 2nd 2nd half
half
1995
1995
1996 1996 1997 1997 1998 1998 1999 1999 2000
2000
8,725 16,705 18,405 19,378 19,816 34,776
7,600 12,670 17,229 16,926 17,314 34,418
Collection Rate (%) 87% 76% 94% 87% 87% 99%
Source: Adapted from:
www2.mst.dk/common/Udgivramme/Frame.asp?http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2002/87-
7972-027-7/html/kap03_eng.htm
29.6 Implementation Costs
Again, as most schemes are over 10 years old, information on the implementation
costs for each scheme has been unavailable for this study. Implementation costs of
the policy are dependent on the scale and remit of the scheme chosen.