UK association warns of ‘75% failure rate’ in waste tire export compliance

London – The UK’s enhanced verification system for waste tire exports is failing, with compliance rates “below 25%” and more than three quarters of shipments effectively untracked, according to the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA).

In a 12 Feb letter to waste minister Mary Creagh, TRA cited newly disclosed government data showing that a majority of authorised waste tire consignments fail to return required post-shipment information after the eight-week reporting deadline.

Of those that do respond, only a limited number meet the required standards, meaning more than 75% of recent whole end-of-life tire (ELT) exports remain undocumented.

The data, released in response to parliamentary questions, show that since stricter verification measures were introduced in October last year, the “overwhelming majority” of export consignments continue to fall short of basic environmental tracking requirements.

According to TRA, 3,281 'Annex VII documents' have been authorised for tire exports since October 2025.

Of the 1,891 consignments that had passed their reporting deadline, 1,370 failed to submit any post-shipment information, while only 458 were deemed compliant.

The association reiterated that enforcement of ELT export controls had previously been shown to be deficient, with illegally exported UK waste tires acknowledged as a core feedstock for polluting batch pyrolysis plants in India.

Further, TRA said that the released details highlighted "a lack of activity to bring brokers and receiving sites into compliance with the requirements."

"There is no evidence that the Environment Agency has removed receiving sites which have not complied with the requirements from the approved list," the association added.

In the absence of stronger action against non-compliant operators and brokers, TRA called on the UK government to adopt a “shred-only” export policy, similar to legislation introduced in Australia in December 2021.

Under the Australian model, whole and baled ELTs cannot be exported and must be processed into shred or crumb of no more than 150mm prior to shipment.

According to the TRA, introducing a similar framework in the UK would provide regulatory certainty and support domestic reprocessing, adding that at least 150,000 tonnes of recycling capacity currently remain idle due to weaknesses in enforcement.

“A new system with a 75% failure rate is not a solution,” said TRA secretary general Peter Taylor OBE.

“Despite the government’s best intentions... the new enhanced verification measures are being ignored by brokers and operators who continue to fuel unregulated pollution overseas.”

The only way to secure the integrity of our waste stream, Taylor added, is to move beyond paperwork and mandate a “shred-only” export policy.

The association also called for the removal of the T8 waste tire exemption, describing it as an “ill-judged” provision that has allowed 'irresponsible operators' to handle tires at minimal cost.

Under T8, businesses can treat small quantities of waste tires through processes like baling, shredding, peeling, shaving, or granulating without requiring a full environmental permit.