Informal second-hand tyre dealers’ management of used and waste tyres in the context of the South African township economy

Abstract

The Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan, published by South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in 2024, aimed to create an enabling environment for the collection and recycling of waste tyres in South Africa and the creation of a circular economy. A role player excluded in the waste tyre value chain is the informal waste tyre dealers dealing with used and waste tyres and operating as part of the township economy in South Africa. This article describes the prevalence of informal tyre dealers in South Africa, the flow of used and waste tyres, as well as the final destination of waste tyres. Surveys containing quantitative and qualitative questions were completed with 551 informal tyre dealers in 11 cities throughout South Africa. Exploring the pathway of waste tyres revealed interesting reuse and recycling practices of waste tyres in townships but also how the exclusion of informal tyre dealers from the value chain leads to dumping and burning of waste tyres. It is clear that informal tyre dealers are an intrinsic part of the township economy and should instead be supported to render service of value.