Used tire congestion crisis returns
The Deputy Director General of Municipal Services Affairs revealed the accumulation of damaged tires in Kuwait's industrial and commercial areas due to the General Authority for Environment's refusal to accept them, highlighting the Cabinet's role in defining jurisdictions.
Translated by Qiyas from القبس — Original source
The problem of accumulated used and damaged tires in industrial, commercial, and investment areas has resurfaced due to the failure of certain government entities to fulfill their assigned roles. Mashal Al-Azmi, Deputy Director General for Municipal Services Sector Affairs and Chairman of the General Cleanliness Committee, revealed that damaged car tires are accumulating in industrial, commercial, and investment areas across all regions of Kuwait, at tire repair and replacement shops. Shop owners are transferring these tires, without authorization, to processing sites, but the Public Authority for Environment (PAE) has refused to accept them.
Al-Azmi further stated in a letter addressed to the Director General of the Municipality that the PAE has also refused to accept unidentified damaged tires, which are being transported by cleaning companies contracted with the Kuwait Municipality to processing facilities.
He referred to a letter from the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers dated December 25, 2025, concerning methods for disposing of, processing, and utilizing damaged and worn-out tires. The letter outlined the distribution of responsibilities among government entities, including the PAE, which is tasked with managing and disposing of damaged and worn-out tires discarded across the country, including their transport to designated collection sites. This aims to increase state revenues while coordinating processing and recycling operations with relevant authorities in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures, thereby maximizing local added value and ensuring environmental protection.
The letter specified that the Municipality is responsible for designating suitable sites for collecting damaged and worn-out tires, in coordination with the Municipal Council and based on requests submitted by the PAE. Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Industry is responsible for issuing the necessary licenses for establishing industrial facilities or workshops specialized in handling damaged and worn-out tires.
Al-Azmi called for contacting the PAE to permit the acceptance of damaged tire waste, in order to prevent their accumulation in industrial, commercial, and investment areas.
