The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change shared the draft notification for regulations for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste automobile tyres that will, if finalized, be effective from the beginning of the new fiscal year, FY22.
The draft notification was issued on December 31 under relevant provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The purpose of the EPR regulations is oriented toward the responsibility of post-stage consumers. Once a tyre is no longer usable, the owner is responsible to discard it. Further, it goes to the company and for the discarding process. EPR regimes will provide proper guidelines on how to discard it in the least environmentally disturbing manner.
Registration would be compulsory, which would mean no entity – producer or recycler of waste tyres – can carry out any business without registration, according to the draft notification. This is an important development as much of the tyre waste recycling or burning happens in the unorganized sector in an unscientific manner. An official from the Ministry said, adding: “The term ‘Environmentally sound management of waste tyre’ means taking all steps required to ensure that waste tyre is managed in a manner, which shall protect health and environment against any adverse effects, which may result from such waste tyre.”
About the Pyrolysis Industry
The pyrolysis (or devolatilization) process is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures in an inert atmosphere. It involves a change in chemical composition. Pyrolysis of organic substances (here, rubber in the case of tyres) produces volatile products and leaves char, a carbon-rich solid residue. This process is mainly used to treat tyre waste management. Improper methods, along with this method, release carbon molecules into the atmosphere.
The pyrolysis industry in India produces inferior-quality products that need to be banned to prevent environmental damage, and the industry emits highly carcinogenic or cancer-causing pollutants, which are harmful to the respiratory system. In 2019, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ordered 270 tyre pyrolysis units on June 19 to shut down, after finding that the units were flouting environmental norms and were responsible for high levels of pollution.
Of the 1.5 billion+ waste tyres that are generated every year worldwide, 6% are in India. In addition, India also imports around three lakh tonnes of tyres to be recycled every year. They are subject to thermochemical treatments at high temperatures to produce industrial oil and other derivatives.
Tyre Management
With a rising population worldwide – especially among emerging middle classes in poorer countries gaining more access to vehicles – comes an increase in vehicle use. As more miles are driven, more tyres are replaced, and more waste tyres have to be dealt with.
End-of-life tyres (or ELTs) – which are abundant and difficult to recycle due to the need for rugged construction and tough materials – are a significant challenge to worldwide environmental efforts.
To Sum it Up
Billions of vehicle tyres are removed and disposed of each year, but dealing with this rugged plastic, rubber, and metal waste without harming the environment has proven to be an as-yet insurmountable global challenge.
Considering the size of the growing problem, it is clear that innovations in tyre waste recycling and more regulations are needed. Waste tyre statistics India is the world’s third-largest producer and the fourth-largest consumer of natural rubber. Within the country, in the last few months, the automobile industry has been one of the largest consumers. Many times, plastic waste management has been mistreated, but this must not repeat itself. Not only in India, but we need reforms in this sector all over the globe.
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