A few days ago, a new decision was issued by the Consumer Protection Authority regarding banning the trading of used tyres and raising the value of the administrative fine imposed on those who violate the provisions of the decision to RO 1,000 (2,600 US dollars) from RO 500 ($1,300) previously. The decision also indicated that an administrative fine would apply to those who continue to violate it as well.
For those who are working in these professions know very well that there is a group that buys used tyres that owners leave them at change shops and workshops. Most of them are not wealthy and have financial circumstances that do not allow them to buy new ones. The used tyres are sometimes exported to other countries, where their owners recycle them to make new tyres, or they are crushed into dirt and used in new industries and in paving modern streets.
During the past years, consumer protection agencies were able to arrest some expatriate workers in the country who trade and sell large quantities of these used tyres in their shops. There is no doubt that this is a great risk, but some consumers do not care about the matter, exposing their health, life, and safety to danger. This is what prompts the Consumer Protection Authority to periodically follow up and monitor markets in various parts of the country to control these dangerous practices that are harmful to consumers and their safety.
There are workers storing these used tyres in some shops, and their residential locations in preparation for selling them in the markets, which prompted the Authority to take legal measures against them. The manufacturing dates of these counterfeit tyres are sometimes manipulated in order to sell them through illegal recycling. Consequently, the concerned authorities shouldo conduct an economic feasibility study to establish other industries of these tyres to preserve the environment.
In several countries, these tyres are recycled due to their environmental and economic benefits, and at the same time they constitute an economic solution to the problem of disposal, as they are sent to public landfills to be burned, which causes environmental pollution and becomes a threat to the health of humans, animals, and plants.
With the emergence of new technologies, these used tyres can be exploited to be recycled to create new and useful products, which gives companies an opportunity to obtain income and profit and contribute to strengthening economies by providing new job opportunities. The crushed rubber of these tyres can also be used to make playground floors, sidewalks, or rubber sheets, and in plastic industries, as well.
This also helps in strengthening the partnership between governmental and private institutions and individuals and in introducing modern technologies into institutions, which prompts countries to make important investments in industry and in the future of people in terms of cleanliness and health. There are many commercial institutions that work in these products in the country, as they are available in car repair shops, tyre shops, vehicle maintenance centers, and others.
Finally, recycling vehicle tyres will contribute to reducing gas emissions associated with the burning of tyres, which can cause a direct impact on the climate and on environmental and human health. The concerned authorities must adopt appropriate policies and legislation to encourage and promote the recycling of used tyres.
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