WHTIE COLNE, United Kingdom—Auto repair shops and tire retailers across the United Kingdom can demonstrate their environmental commitment and credentials with the launch of the tire industry's “Responsible Retailer” initiative, according to the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA).
The program has been designed to help retailers manage their used tire disposal in line with industry best-practice guidelines, the TRA said, and to help them promote these credentials to motorists.
Retailers signing up will receive annual certification that demonstrates their commitment, a range of educational materials to explain to motorists how they are acting in a proper manner, and other promotional materials such as an e-newsletter and video.
A dedicated website includes a postal code-driven search engine to help retailers find a local collector and a list of garages signed up to the Responsible Retailer program.
The program is backed by Motor Codes, a government-backed self-regulatory body for the motor industry, the Independent Garage Association's 'Trust My Garage' scheme, and the UK Environment Agency which was involved in its development.
TRA president Mike Wilson said “in the U.K. we generate some 40 million used car and van tires each year. These need to be recycled responsibly.
“The industry has already developed robust and effective practices to handle these and we now need to concentrate our efforts and encourage retailers to act responsibly as well.”
Since 2006, under the U.K.'s Landfill Directive, it has been illegal to send waste tires to landfills. The country's voluntary recycling scheme manages to account for around 80 percent of used tires, according to the TRA. However, many tires are still abandoned, illegally stored or exported—making them the Environment Agency's fourth top risk in terms of illegal waste site types.
U.K. Business and Energy Minister Michael Fallon said that “improper disposal of used tires can have a nasty impact on the environment, so I very much welcome the extension of the industry-led 'Responsible Recycler' scheme into the wider tire supply chain.
“This move encourages greater business transparency and strengthens the joint government/industry fight against illegal fly-tipping (illegal dumping).”
This report appeared in European Rubber Journal, a U.K.-based sister publication of Tire Business.