INTERVIEW
The Circulars are the world’s premier circular economy award programme, and offer recognition to all individuals and organisations from commerce and civil society across the globe that have made a notable contribution to driving circular economy principles. R&D is a critical element of the REDISA Plan, and in 2013, REDISA signed an MOU with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), which was in turn the foundation for an agreement finalised in 2014, which addressed two areas: • REDISA funds students undertaking research projects related to tyre recycling, which both contributes to knowledge in this area, and trains up people who can work in the industry. • REDISA is also using NMMU expertise to support the creation of the Product Testing Institute (PTI) which will carry out tyre testing according to SA homologation standards and international standards, and will be developing a new set of standards which will define an environmental rating for tyres. The completion of the construction of the PTI is expected within the next 18 to 24 months, with full operational capacity as a tyre homologation facility scheduled for within the next 36 months. REDISA is facilitating the establishment of the PTI that has as its main objective to test tyres and environmentally rate and certify each model of tyre.
Currently, the waste management fee paid to REDISA is standardised at R2.30 per kilogram. Once an environmental rating system has been developed and linked to tyre homologation standards, REDISA will be in a position to set a new pricing structure. This will allow those tyres manufactured using better environmental standards to have a lower fee, while those tyres that are manufactured with more adverse effects on the environment will have a higher fee. Broadly, the PTI establishment process will be construction; accreditation for SA homologation; accreditation for EU/US homologation; development of the environmental rating system. What is the vision for the future of REDISA? Since beginning operations mid-2013, REDISA’s Waste into Worth concept has been successfully implemented to further the circular economy within the tyre industry and we have achieved a number of noteworthy milestones. Our strategy for this year is to continue to meet the requirements as outlined in the REDISA Plan, particularly in line with supporting the development of SMMEs and recyclers which will further drive development of the tyre recycling industry in South Africa. This development will be achieved predominantly through investment in infrastructure, business support and research into new applications for waste.
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SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS 2017