Status of waste tires and management practice in Botswana

ABSTRACT Waste tires (WTs) are becoming a significant environmental, economic, and technological challenge due to their high contents of combustible composition and potential for valuable materials and energy resources. Few studies in developing and even developed countries have been carried out to assess the challenges regarding waste tire management and to suggest the best alternative solutions for managing this waste stream. Although developed countries made progress in waste tire management needs by implementing more efficient innovative recovery and recycling methods, and restrictive regulations regarding the management of used tires, in many developing countries, the management of waste tires has not received adequate interest, and the processing, treatment, and disposal of waste tire is still nascent. In recent years, worldwide, several methods for managing used tires, including other principal alternatives for managing end-of-life tires defined in the 4Rs: reduction, reuse, recovery, and recycling, have been adopted and applied to minimize serious threats to both the natural environment and humans. This paper attempted to establish stakeholders’ action that has the responsibility in waste tire management in Botswana. This study also analyzed important aspects on waste tire management in Botswana. A synthesis of approaches was employed in the present investigation to determine the factors influencing effective performance of waste tire management practice in Botswana. Data for the present study were obtained using relevant published literature, scientific journals, other third-sector sources, academic sources, and research derived from governments and other agencies and field observations. Group discussions with the participants and semistructured interviews with professionals were carried out. The outcomes of this investigation are a wide-ranging outline concerning the participants that are important in waste tire management, and a set of aspects affecting the management of waste tires. The information provided by this study is very critical for reviewing and updating the methods and tools to update waste tire data and trends to improve waste tire management efficiency, suggesting innovative methods of recovering and recycling this waste stream in Botswana. Implications: Waste tire management in Botswana demonstrates challenges that epitomize many developing and transitioning countries due to inadequate knowledge to implement integrated programs that incorporate environmental sustainability, stockpiling of whole tires at landfills, lack of consistent and systemic approaches to tire regulation, lack of methods and tools to update tire data and trends, limited application of technology to process and treat WTs, and lack of societal acceptance. To improve WT management efficiency in Botswana, it is critical to implement efficient and well-functioning approaches, including the circular economy; encourage the harmonization of policies; implement recovery and recycling methods of waste tires; prohibit stockpiling of WTs at landfilling and unofficial dumpsites; and promote economic instruments such as the tax system and the extended producer responsibility.