13 Oct 2016

Used tyres have proven to be a business opportunity.

While old tyres have proven to be a headache for Kweneng District Council at  Gamodubu landfill, there are also opportunities that Batswana can take advantage of and venture in to the business of recycling tyres.

The chief public health officer at the council, Ms Kumbulani Hobona said during an interview that not only the council, but many recycling companies and landfills were struggling with used tyres. She said tyres were among the largest and most problematic sources of waste because of their shape and large volume that took up a lot of valuable space.

She said though worn out tyres presented a problem for them, there was also an opportunity for entrepreneurs who might be interested in recycling them.

She described tyres as one of the most reusable types of waste materials as the rubber was resilient and could be used in many ways.

“Significant opportunities exist world wide including Botswana from recycling tyres. The best method to dispose tyre is to recycle them. They can be recycled to mix with hot asphalt to make pavements. Medium sized shredded tyres can be used on roadbeds to minimize vibrations and highway sound barriers,” she said.

She explained that tyres could also be pelletised or granulated and be used on race tracks as it had been used in the Molepolole Sports Complex.

It could also be used to produce fuel, oils, gas and solid residue or char.

She further observed that in the country, there was a growing trend where individuals used second hand tyres for making chairs, watering troughs and plant pots. In day care centers tyres are used to make childrens’ entertainment grounds.

Ms Hobona said the significant increase of waste tyre at Gamodubu landfill is mainly attributed to the growth in number of vehicles in the country. She said the average monthly waste deposited is 65 tonnes of tyre waste.

The council charges only P50 per tonne of tyres deposited. The most tyre producers are said to be tyre dealers who sell tyres to the public. This is a result of replacing worn out tyres at these companies that are mostly based in Mogoditshane and Gaborone.

Ms Hobona said the council stockpiled tyres at Gamodubu landfill and did tyre shredding at a smaller scale.

However, due to the large volumes, plans were underway to invite entrepreneurs who were interested in recycling tyres to be given the opportunity to collect such.

Director at the Department of Road, Transport and Safety, Mr Modukanele Bokhutlo advised against buying of second hand tyres to reuse in vehicles.

He said every tyre had a life span, which had to be observed by all users.

He pointed out that in some cases tyres are mainly made for certain conditions only, where as in countries such as Botswana tyres that can withstand both the extensive heat, muddy and wet conditions should be used.

He said sale of second hand tyres could not be said to be lawful since they were taken out of cars by owners who had found them to be of no use.

He pointed out that the Road Traffic Act regulations 17-31 elaborates on how tyres should be fitted, inflate, and guides vehicle owners how they should treat tyres that are fitted in their vehicles. 

He said that it was for this reason that his department, partnering with other stakeholders had embarked on an educational campaign concerning the proper tyres to be fitted on vehicles, and hopes that this exercise will bear fruits in the long term.

He said there was no law that specified how second hand tyres should be disposed of.

“We continue to plead with vehicle owners not to buy second hand tyres because they might be endangering their lives and other road users,” he said.

Meanwhile, a businessman and a plumber, Mr Rhozivo Mbale said he saw an opportunity in using worn out tyres to build sewage tanks for residents of Ghanzi area where rocks are rare to find.

He explained that while plumbers usually use rocks to build a soak away tank it is difficult for people of Ghanzi area as they collect rocks from far at costly prices.

He therefore ventured into using tyres instead of rocks and the method proved to be just as effective as the use of rocks.

“I have been doing this for about four years now and people are happy with my work,” he said. ENDS