The industry experienced a crisis last week, after being notified that the Waste Management Bureau had taken over the entire management of waste tyres and that existing transporters’ contracts had been terminated with immediate effect.
TEPA was quick to respond, eventually releasing the following statement:
“We are pleased to announce that after our intervention with the Minister and Director General of the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment, the following has been confirmed.
“As at 16h30 today (January 20th), TEPA was notified that the Waste Bureau and DFFE have found a short-term solution to the transport and depot operations issues that would affect our industry.
- The transporters’ contracts have now with immediate effect been extended to 28 February 2022. This will allow for time for the Waste Bureau to evaluate the tenders as submitted. Therefore, there should be no immediate interruption to the service you may have receiving as a dealer from the transporters.
- The management of the Waste Tyre Depots will, as an interim measure, be seconded to Waste Bureau staff to manage, as the contract cannot be further extended at this stage. The Waste Bureau staff have apparently already started the take over process and will be sourcing labour for the depots as quickly as possible.
There will be a follow-up meeting with the Director General of the Department on Tuesday January 25 2022, after which further details will be shared with TEPA members.
