The Finnish model of tyre recycling is based on the decision made by the Council of State (decision no. 1246, October 12, 1995) setting an obligation for tyre producers to take responsibility for used tyres. The decision also sets a goal to recycle 90 % of all tyres removed from use annually by the year 2000, which has already been achieved. This decision and the success of its implementation has been a couraging example for other decisions concerning recycling.

No. 1246

Decision of the Council of State
on the use and treatment of disused tyres

Given in Helsinki on the 12th day of October 1995

The Council of State, under the provisions of section 5 and section 18 of the Refuse Act (1072/93) given on the 3rd day of December 1993, has, at the proposal of the Ministry of the Environment, decided that:

Sub-section 1
Intention

In order to improve the utilisation and other waste disposal of used tyres and to prevent harm arising from them, an obligation on the part of the producer and vendor is laid down in this decision to be responsible for arranging for the waste disposal of used tyres.

The objective is that 90 per cent of the tyres that are taken out of use annually, intended in this decision, shall be utilised by the year 2000.

Sub-section 2
Definitions

In this decision
1) tyre means a tyre, used tyre or tyre hub of a motorised, towed or other vehicle or piece of equipment;
2) used tyre means a waste tyre;
3) tyre producer means the professional manufacturer or importer or individual that carries out retreading of a tyre or vehicle or piece of equipment equipped with a tyre;
4) tyre seller means a company carrying out the sale of a tyre or a vehicle or piece of equipment equipped with a tyre; and
5) tyre consumer means a natural or legal person that uses tyres in their activity.

Sub-section 3
Arranging waste disposal

A tyre producer must arrange for the collection, storage, reuse or other utilisation or treatment of used tyres as well as the dissemination of publicity and information relating to them. The producer must arrange this collection over a sufficiently large region and even-handedly. This obligation applies to an amount that is considered to be reasonable having regard for the amount that the producer releases on to the market and to used tyres that correspond to the types released.

A vendor of tyres must accept used tyres without compensation. This obligation applies to an amount that is considered reasonable having regard for the amount sold and to used tyres that correspond to the types on sale.

A tyre consumer must submit a used tyre to the vendor of the tyre or to a place of reception arranged by the tyre producer, unless he himself arranges for utilisation of the tyres.

Notified in accordance with the Council's Directive 83/189/EEC, amended 182/88/EEC, amended 94/10/EC.

A tyre consumer and a local authority are released from liability to arrange waste disposal when a used tyre has been delivered to a collection point arranged by the vendor or producer of the tyre.

Sub-section 4
Utilisation and treatment

An effort must be made in the first instance to use used tyres again or to utilise them in another way as material an in the second instance to utilise them as energy.

Used tyres that cannot be utilised must be stored separately from other waste with the intention of reusing them at a later date or otherwise utilising them.

Sub-section 5
Obligation to provide information

A tyre producer or an association representing the producer must give notice to the Finnish Environment Institute once yearly before the end of April of the following information relating to the preceding year:

1) the amount of new, used and retread tyres supplied to the domestic market;
2) an assessment of the accrued amount of used tyres;
3) the amount of used tyres as material and energy;
4) information on the publicity and information work carried out and
5) other necessary information.

Sub-section 6
Powers of the Ministry of the Environment

The Ministry of the Environment may give more detailed stipulations and exceptions for the tyres intended in clause 1 of sub-section 2 and also more detailed stipulations of the obligations intended in clauses 1.2 and 3 of sub-section 3 and in sub-section 5.

Sub-section 7
Coming into force

This decision will come into force on the 1st day of June 1996.

Before this decision comes into force action can be commenced on its implementation.

Helsinki 12th day of October 1995

Minister of the Environment
Pekka Haavisto