THE ESTONIAN TYRE ASSOCIATION
The Estonian Tyre Association is a non-profit organisation and the oldest
manufacturerÂ’s liability watchdog in the country. We organise the collection and
recycling of old tyres. Our members are EstoniaÂ’s largest producers and
importers of tyres. It is in the best interests of all of these companies that
tyres, as problem products, be reused as effectively and in an as
environmentally-friendly a way as possible, as is required by the stateÂ’s Waste
Act and scrap regulations.
MANUFACTURERÂ’S LIABILITY
The Waste Act applies the principle of manufacturer's liability to problem
products, which means that the manufacturer is obliged to ensure the collection
and recycling or removal of the waste produced by products it has manufactured,
sold or imported.
Manufacturer’s liability applies to those companies – producers, importers
and wholesale and retail sellers – who are obliged to take responsibility
for the substances contained in their products, the components of the products
and the products as a whole from the moment of their production to the point at
which they become waste.
In the case of tyres, European Union member states are guided by this principle
of manufacturerÂ’s liability, according to which importers and producers must
finance a system of used tyre collection and recycling. Tyres have been included
in the list of problem products in Estonia since the stateÂ’s scrap regulations
were updated in July 2005, and manufacturerÂ’s liability thus also applies to
them.
In reality, implementing this principle has generally meant that producers or
importers add a recycling fee to the price of a new tyre, with the money
collected in this way forwarded to the manufacturerÂ’s liability organisation.
This organisation then arranges for the collection and recycling of the tyres,
outsourcing services from the waste management sector.
Tyre recycling has been obligatory since 1 January 2006.
DECLARING QUANTITIES
Importers
At the beginning of each month, companies who import tyres for sale declare the
total number of tyres sold (primary sales) in the previous calendar month to the
Estonian Tyre Association.
Retreaders
At the beginning of each month, companies who import tyres for retreading
declare the total number of tyres sold (primary sales) in the previous calendar
month to the Estonian Tyre Association. Retreaders do not need to declare sales
of tyres which have been recycled from those collected in Estonia.
Calculating fees
The Estonian Tyre Association issues invoices based on the declared number of
tyres multiplied by the amount of the recycling fee.
Fee payment
Members of the Estonian Tyre Association are given three months in which to pay
their fees.
Companies which are not members of the association must pay within two weeks.
Fees
1st class: 900 EEK/ton or 57,52 EUR/ton
2nd class: 900 EEK/ton or 57,52 EUR/ton
Establishing a system for the financing of the collection and recycling of old
tyres
Tyre importers and retreaders began paying a recycling fee on imported tyres to
the Estonian Tyre Association on 1 January 2006. The first report was presented
to the association at the beginning of February 2006 regarding the previous
month.
Use of the money collected
The Estonian Tyre Association is a manufacturerÂ’s liability watchdog which
organises the collection and recycling of reusable tyres.
When tyre companies (importers and retreaders) enter into manufacturerÂ’s
liability agreements with the association, declare the amount of tyres they sell
and pay their invoices, the companies delegate the responsibilities placed on
them by the Waste Act to the Estonian Tyre Association.
The association accepts old and historical tyres from individuals, local
governments, tyre workshops who have entered into agreements with us and
cleaning companies throughout the country free of charge.
TYRE SHREDDER
The Estonian Tyre Association has acquired a tyre shredder unique in Estonia for
the recycling of its tyres. An international tender was organised for the
procurement of the machine which was won by OÜ Weima Baltic. The shredder cost
6,995,000 EEK (+ VAT), with half of this sum financed by the Environmental
Investment Centre.
The shredder was manufactured by the German company Artech and arrived in
Estonia in early December 2005. The shredder sits on a trailer, making it easy
to transport to collection points around the country and shred old tyres on
site. The machine is capable of shredding between five and eight tons of tyres
per hour and operates on two 75 kW electric motors. It has a separate sifter,
guaranteeing that the size of the shredded tyre pieces is 100 mm x 100 mm.
The material produced can be used in road construction, as a raw material in the
production of new tyres and for the building of waste disposal site
infrastructure.
Tyre shredder data:
Manufacturer: Artech (Germany)
Operations: Mobile, sits on trailer, shreds 5-8 tons/hour
Power: 2 x 75 kW electric motors
Output: Separate sifter ensures shredded tyre pieces of 100 mm x 100 mm
Cost: 6,995,000 EEK (+ VAT)
CONTACT DETAILS & COMPANY INFORMATION
ESTONIAN TYRE ASSOCIATION
Reg. no. 80118804
VAT no. EE100857124
Address: Vana-Narva mnt 26, Maardu 74114, Estonia
Telephone: +372 633 9246, +372 56 236 697, +372 51 59 279
Fax: +372 633 9241
info@rehviliit.ee
Managing Director: Kaur Kuurme, telephone: +372 56 236 697, e-mail:
kaur.kuurme@rehviliit.ee
