"Ekolinas" against the destruction of ROP tire manufacturers moratorium, regulations and environmental taxes Ministry of natural resources

20 November 2019

Leading manufacturers and importers of tyres have opposed a moratorium on independent implementation of the ROP

Today, 20 November, 2019 at the press center "Russia Today" held a press conference where leading manufacturers and importers of tires belonging to the Association "Ekolinas", strongly opposed the proposed concept Ministry of environment changes in waste treatment, concerning waste tires,

such as:
• against the imposition of moratorium on independent implementation of the ROP;
• against simultaneous increase in the ratio of recycling to 100% of the volume produced and imported tires.
• against the imposition of ekosbor.


The speakers were: Executive Director of "Ekolinas" Sergey Pail; Chairman of the Board "Ekolinas" and CEO of Continental Kaluga Georgy Rotov, General Director of Bridgestone Russia and the CIS Jeffrey Glover, General Director of Michelin in the East European region Dmitry Molokanov and CEO of Nokian Tyres Russia Andrii pantiukhov (online).

The principle of EPR legislation introduced in Russia January 1, 2015, and assumes that the manufacturer and the importer alone and dispose of the manufactured products which lost their consumer properties.

The purpose of the ROP is the reduction of the volume of processed waste and maximizing recycling.

In accordance with the requirements of Federal law No. 89 for independent enforcement of standards of waste tires within the PMA in 2017, was created a non-profit Association "Ekolinas" which currently consists of six biggest manufacturers and importers of tires in Russia: Bridgestone, Continental, Hankook, Michelin, Nokian Tyres and Yokohama Rubber Co.

Georgiy Rotov, General Director of Continental Kaluga, the Chairman of the Board "Echochinese", stressed that the objective of the Association is the promotion and development of a comprehensive system for the collection and disposal of waste tires in Russia.

For the period from 2017 to 2019, disposed of 136 000 tons of waste tires.

According to expert estimates, in Russia annually produces about 800 000 tons of waste tires, which is one of the reasons for the formation of illegal dumps of tyres that damage the environment and increase the risk of fires.

"Ekolinas" building partner relations with the enterprises-utilizers. Sergei Pail: "We stimulate the development of processors as in the aspects of gathering and capacity building, and in the aspect of infrastructure improvement. Each processor fixed four-year development plans".

As a result of the activities of "Echochinese", established more than 350 special containers to collect tyres for recycling, involved more than 950 tire centers and launched the pilot program for cooperation with retail tire chains, and also eliminated a significant number of illegal dumps of tires.

The speakers explained that the discussions in the Ministry initiative on introduction of a moratorium can end the ongoing and planned projects in the field of ROP. According to Andrew pantyukhova, General Director of Nokian Tyres Russia, only sequential operation of the business within the ROP will be able to give the result, namely: to create and develop a comprehensive and well-working industry of waste management.

General Director of Bridgestone Russia and CIS Jeff Glover said, "it is Important to note that the elimination of the formed system may adversely affect the work of enterprises in the processing sector, which ultimately will lead not to growth, and to reduce the total volume of waste tires".

The members of the Association "Ekolinas" act for the gradual increase of the standard disposal.
CEO of Michelin in the East European region Dmitry Molokanov said: "Current legislation in the field of treatment of worn-out tires are built in line with international practices, and activities "of Echochinese" already shows a specific positive result. One-time establishment of a 100% standard for disposal will not lead to 100% utilization. It is important to increase the capacity and create the infrastructure".

Executive Director of "Echochinese" Sergey Pail said: "the Volume of recyclable tyres are increasing every year. If in 2017 it processed 30,000 tons in 2019, up to 70 000 tons, and this figure continues to grow. According to our forecasts, while maintaining the current dynamics of the level of utilization will reach 50% by 2024, which is almost a third higher target for MSW (36% in 2024)".

PS I Must say that the current press conference of the foreign tire manufacturers operating in Russia, was held in a rather alarmist manner. So the additional costs for the disposal of tires in the case of the introduction of the 100 percent standard for recycling and ekosbor was estimated by the foreign manufacturers of tyres in Russia ₽200 to 1 billion a year, what are the costs, one way or another will be passed on to consumers. Actually the main idea was expressed by Sergey Pail, who said, "representatives of the Ministry have repeatedly mentioned certain violations of business structures for waste tires that supposedly do nothing, use a fake certificate for disposal, etc., etc., but does not cite a single concrete fact of such abuses. We as conscientious producers to such machinations never fell, and not primarily from fear of being caught, but because the struggle for the environment is for us not an empty phrase, and not for profit, and long-term and systematic work to reduce environmental damage of such a problematic product like car tires. We are always available for appropriate checks and are open for cooperation with state bodies authorized to deal with environmental protection. Against this background, a surprisingly negative with respect to the tire company position Ministry of environment, Ministry of economic development and Ministry of trade and industry looks to the actual diplomacia their efforts, and the requirement to impose the moratorium, the standard and ekosbor will simply lead to destruction to establish fair business at the disposal of tires in the country, carrying real benefits to society and the economy of Russia. Why destroy already running normally, creating another administrative monster monopoly, which will not struggle for the environment, but a simple collection of funds, which are still unknown where they'll go."
His colleagues – representatives of manufacturers of tires and at the same time, the members of the Association "Ekolinas" with some additional nuances, in General, agreed with the position of the leadership of this organization. In any case, the norm and ekosbor still have a fight in GD, so there is hope that common sense, people's choices will prevail over the false understanding of national interests..