A press conference took place on November 20, 2019 at the Press center of International Information Agency Rossiya Segodnya, where leading manufacturers and importers of tires – members of EcoTyresUnion – spoke against the changes in waste management field proposed by the concept of the Ministry of Nature, related to waste tyres, that is:
- against the introduction of a moratorium on the independent EPR compliance;
- against a one-time increase of the recycling norm up to 100% from the volume of manufactured and imported tires;
- against the introduction of an eco-fee.
The speakers included: Sergey Podoynikov, Executive Director of EcoTyresUnion; Georgy Rotov, General director of Continental Kaluga, Chairman of the EcoTyresUnion Board; Jeffrey Glover, General director of Bridgestone Russia and CIS; Dmitry Molokanov, General director of Michelin in the Eastern European region; Andrey Pantyukhov, General director of Nokian Tyres Russia.
The EPR principle was legally introduced in Russia on January 1, 2015 and assumes that the manufacturer and importer independently recycle the manufactured products that have lost their consumer properties. The goal of the EPR is to reduce the volume of processed waste and ensure maximum recycling. In accordance with the requirements of Federal law No. 89 for independent compliance of the recycling norms of tyres as part of EPR in 2017 a non-profit Association «EcoTyresUnion» was created.
Georgy Rotov, General director of Continental Kaluga, Chairman of the EcoTyresUnionBoard, stressed that the Association’s task is to promote and develop a comprehensive system for collecting and recycling of used tires in Russia. Between 2017 and 2019, 136,000 tons of used tires had been recycled.
According to expert estimates, about 800,000 tons of used tires are produced annually in Russia, which is one of the reasons for the formation of unauthorized tire landfills, that damage the environment and increase the risk of fire.
EcoTyresUnion builds up partner relations with the recycling enterprises. Sergey Podoynikov: «We encourage the development of recycling companies both in terms of collecting and increasing capacity, and in terms of improving infrastructure. Four-year development plans are fixed with each recycler.»
As a result of EcoTyresUnion activities, more than 350 specialized containers for collecting tires for recycling were installed, more than 950 tire service centers were involved, pilot programs were launched to interact with retail tire chains, and a significant number of unauthorized tyre dumps were eliminated.
The speakers explained that the initiatives discussed in the Ministry of natural resources on the introduction of a moratorium may cancel the ongoing and planned projects in the field of EPR. According to Andrey Pantyukhov, General Director of Nokian Tyres Russia, only consistent work of the business in the EPR field will produce results, that is: to create and develop a full-fledged and well-functioning waste management industry.
Jeff Glover, General director of Bridgestone Russia and CIS: «It is important to note that the elimination of the formed system may negatively affect the work of enterprises in the recycling sector, which will eventually lead to a decrease in the total volume of tire recycling, rather than an increase.»
The members of the Association «EcoTyresUnion» act for the gradual increase of the recycling norm. Dmitry Molokanov, General director of Michelin in the Eastern European region, noted the following: «The current legislation in the waste tyre management field is built in line with international practices, and the activity of EcoTyresUnion is already showing a positive result. Setting a 100% recycling norm at one time will not result in 100% recycling. It is important to increase capacity and create infrastructure.» «The volume of recycled tires is growing every year. In 2017, 30,000 tons were recycled, and in 2019 – 70,000 tons, and this figure continues to grow. According to our forecasts, while maintaining the current dynamics, the recycling rate will reach 50% by 2024, which is almost a third higher than the target for SMW (36% in 2024),» commented Sergey Podoynikov, Executive Director of EcoTyresUnion.
Media contacts:
Sergey Podoynikov, EcoTyresUnion
Executive Director
Mobile: +7 985 768 08 82
sergey.podoynikov@etu-rf.ru