Tyres are being dumped secretly all over the country, poisoning the environment and wasting economic opportunities, recyclers say.
Dave Youngson of Ecoretainer said he knew of tyres dumped in mangroves and off cliffs.
Despite various attempts to improve the ways Kiwis dispose of tyres, Mr Youngson said tyres that could be recycled locally were still being dumped or sent to unregulated furnaces in Asia which spewed out filth.
Adele Rose, chief executive of product stewardship and recycling company 3R Group, also said dumping was still happening in environmentally sensitive areas.
Ms Rose said many in the industry were upset a planned and mandatory tyre recycling scheme had stalled.
