Circular economy minister Mary Creagh MP recently said she was unable to commit to action on regulatory improvements following questioning in the House of Commons by Tessa Munt MP.
The TRA stressed that – despite the government’s commitment to end T8 exemptions – there has been no date given to enact the policy.
The T8 exemption allows for the treatment of small amounts of waste end-of-life tyres for recovery by baling, shredding, peeling, shaving or granulating.
The association added that there has been “stark evidence” from Indian tyre trade bodies that the current controls are “continuing to fail” to ensure that UK tyre waste is treated in an environmentally sound manner.
India’s leading trade body the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) has called for the end of waste tyre imports to India. ATMA represents 95% of the tyre industry in India and is recognised as an authoritative source of statistical information.
The EU is currently in the process of reworking its Waste Shipment Rules which govern where and how waste is exported.
The TRA commented on waste shipment regulations in the UK: “The UK continues with controls which were retained following Britain’s departure from the EU.
“While the EU rewrite Waste Shipment Rules it deems unfit for purpose, newly elected UK ministers have decided to recycle the complacent lines of the former Conservative government.
“Despite the freedoms from independence that allows Britain to set its own innovative and forward-looking policy, that could be faster and cleaner than the EU’s waste rules and deliver growth here in the UK.”
‘T8 exemption must end now’
Peter Taylor OBE, secretary general of the TRA, said: “As far as UK tyre recovery operators can see, the only recycling our new ministers are interested in is the last government’s out of date lines-to-take on end-of-life tyres. If the UK doesn’t take the initiative, we will find ourselves in a very awkward position, responding to rules set by foreign governments. To create a truly circular economy that improves environmental management we need a viable UK tyre recovery industry now and into the future. Exports need to be looked at and the T8 exemption must end now. We cannot go on like this.
“Current UK regulations actually facilitate exports, to the detriment of our recycling industry and its future development. Further, the TRA are calling for measures that will provide investors with the confidence required to deliver the next generation of technological solutions and strengthen domestic resilience.
“Right now, we have capacity sitting idle while whole tyre exports accelerate environmental damage. Our members businesses need regulatory reform to survive. The long-term waste road map articulated by the Secretary of State when he came to office last summer looks to be happening on another planet. Reality waits for no man, woman or government minister. We need action now.”
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