Tyre bodies urge Defra to act on ‘stalled’ implementation of rules

The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association, the British Tyre Manufacturers Association and the National Tyre Distributors Association all signed the letter.

The letter, following the Labour government’s first budget, asks for action on industry issues that have “immediate bearing” on the objectives the Labour government have set to protect nature and the environment.

Ending T8 exemptions

The signatories have called on the government to use a device called ‘operational condition’. The letter reads: “Latest figures show more than 300,000 tons of UK end-of-life tyre are exported per annum, which is far too many given that the UK has at least 150,000 tons of idle domestic processing capacity. This must be reflected in the EIP and any roadmap to create a zero-waste economy. What our members need, however, is action now. Not new action but the implementation of the rules that have been stalled.

• Ending T8 exemptions (announced some years ago, but no action has followed. Scottish authorities ended T8 exemption in 2018)
• Ending exports of whole end-of-life car tyres (ELTs) (as Australia has demonstrated, a simple and effective means of addressing environmental concerns and ensuring domestic capability)”

The trade bodies also said that they want to see environmental regulations improved to deliver a stable and sustainable industry to provide investors with the confidence required to deliver the next generation of technological solutions and strengthen domestic resilience.

Peter Taylor OBE, secretary general of the TRA, who coordinated the letter said: “When an industry comes together to speak with one voice, the government must listen. These reforms are needed if Steve Reed is going to deliver his important environmental objectives.  But, just as importantly, they are needed if the UK is to have a domestic tyre industry that is economically viable and contributes to government’s stated objective of national economic growth.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “This government is committed to creating a roadmap to a circular economy, moving to a future where we keep our resources in use for longer whilst protecting our natural environment.

“We have strict controls in place for exporting waste tyres – including unlimited fines and jail time for anyone found to be illegally exporting tyre waste – and are committed to removing the T8 exemption.”