UK Tyre Recovery Association renews call for waste tire regulation reforms

London – The UK’s Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has submitted a comprehensive dossier of evidence to the Environment Agency (EA), renewing its call for urgent regulatory reform in the treatment and export of end-of-life tires (ELTs).

The submission comes as the EA’s inquiry into waste tire management closes its evidence-gathering phase. 

The inquiry was initiated following a BBC’s File on 4 documentary ‘the tire scandal’ in March, which highlighted serious environmental concerns tied to the export of baled tires from the UK to countries such as India. (ERJ report)

According to the TRA, the dossier, submitted 2 June, reflects "years of persistent engagement with government and regulators" and outlines systemic issues in oversight and enforcement.

The association renewed its call for the removal of the T8 waste exemption, under which businesses can treat small quantities of waste tires through processes like baling, shredding, peeling, shaving, or granulating without requiring a full environmental permit.

The exemption is primarily applicable in England with Scotland having ended the exemption in 2018.

“Our dossier sets out how, over five years, the TRA has been consistently raising the alarm about the systemic failures in regulating waste tire exports,” said Peter Taylor OBE, secretary general of the TRA.

It further demonstrates the “detrimental impact” of such failures on the environment and legitimate UK recycling businesses, Taylor added.

The submission provides “detailed evidence, including GPS tracking data and discrepancies in import volumes, that unequivocally demonstrates the scale of the problem,” he said.

The TRA reiterated its call for the adoption of a “shred-only” export protocol, as already implemented by environmental authorities in Australia.

Such a policy, according to the association, would help ensure tires are processed responsibly and that domestic recycling capacity is better utilised.

“We have provided the EA with irrefutable evidence of the challenges facing our sector and the consequences of inaction,” Taylor stated. “The time for platitudes and one-way correspondence is over.”

The TRA said it will continue to work with both the EA and DEFRA to ensure that the inquiry results in “meaningful and timely policy change.”