Seven TOTCUS students attended the Tyre Shredding (Plastic) Workshop at University of Auckland Leigh Marine Laboratory

Did you know that around 10,000 tonnes of tyre wear is released into the New Zealand environment every year? (Kudin et all, 2024.)  

On tyre tread emission New Zealand (2.12 kg/person) ranks, on a per capita basis, ahead of India (0.23kg), China (0.55),Germany (1.3), Brazil (1.4), Norway (1.5), Japan (1.9). Only the USA ranked higher (4.7 kg/p). 

On the family car only 18% of the tyre is natural rubber.

Seven Rosmini TOTCUS students accompanied Mr Pygott and Mr Wood to Goat Island Marine Reserve last Friday to learn about these plastics and the harm they are doing to the environment. They also learned that Australia is trying to export their used tyres, reconstituted as roading surfaces, to New Zealand. The problem is that, like tyres, these surfaces also break down and add to the plastic particles entering the environment. 

The boys connected with Rosmini Old Boy Dr Tim Haggitt (pictured with his Rosmini scarf) who is the director of the Marine Research Centre, and another Old Boy, David Greig, who is the Principal Environmental Specialist at New Zealand Transport Agency.