According to recent reports, Indian Government has identified 695 tire pyrolysis units across the country, with 440 facilities reported as compliant with the standard operating procedure for processing waste tire scrap into tire pyrolysis oil, pyro gas and char. The figures were provided to the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh on July 30, 2026. Based on information from the Central Pollution Control Board and inputs from 36 state pollution control boards and pollution control committees, the government said 255 units were non-compliant. Of these, 25 closed voluntarily, 33 were shut down by state regulators, and action has been initiated against the remaining 197. The data offer a rare national snapshot of India’s tire pyrolysis sector, showing both its importance in end-of-life tire management and the scale of enforcement still required to ensure responsible recycling operations.

Government outlines compliance status of pyrolysis plants

The parliamentary response shows that a majority of India’s identified tire pyrolysis units are operating in line with the applicable standard operating procedure. These rules govern the recycling of waste tire scrap into outputs such as tire pyrolysis oil, pyro gas and char, which can be used in downstream industrial applications when produced under controlled environmental conditions.

The information was drawn from the Central Pollution Control Board and state-level pollution control authorities. Their role is significant because tire pyrolysis plants require close oversight related to emissions, product handling, storage, residue management and overall environmental compliance.

Enforcement action continues against non-compliant units

Of the 255 non-compliant tire pyrolysis facilities, 58 have already stopped operating, either through voluntary closure or regulatory shutdown. The remaining 197 units are subject to initiated action by state pollution control boards or pollution control committees.

The figures indicate that India’s tire pyrolysis industry is still moving through a regulatory tightening phase. While compliant facilities can contribute to waste tire recycling and recovery, poorly managed plants may create pollution risks and undermine confidence in the wider circular economy for end-of-life tires.

Pyrolysis remains a major route for waste tire recovery

Tire pyrolysis is an established processing route in India’s tire recycling sector. The process thermally breaks down waste tires into oil, gas, char and steel. Tire pyrolysis oil and pyro gas may serve as energy or industrial feedstocks, while char can be used in lower-value applications or further upgraded toward recovered carbon black, depending on quality and processing capability.

The large number of identified units shows the role pyrolysis plays in India’s end-of-life tire system. At the same time, the compliance gap shows why regulation, monitoring and technical standards remain central to the sector’s future development.

India’s ELT system includes several recovery pathways

Pyrolysis is only one part of India’s broader end-of-life tire management landscape. Other routes include retreading, mechanical recycling, crumb rubber production, rubberized asphalt, molded rubber products and other material recovery applications. Each pathway depends on feedstock quality, market demand, processing capacity and regulatory support.

For India’s tire recycling sector, the challenge is to ensure that waste tires are processed through routes that are both commercially viable and environmentally sound. Stronger compliance in pyrolysis could help improve the quality of tire-derived oil, char and other outputs while supporting more reliable downstream markets.

Environmental clearances also discussed in Parliament

The same parliamentary update also included information on environmental clearances for infrastructure projects. The Rajya Sabha was told that 20 infrastructure projects and activities received environmental clearance in 2024–25 and 2025–26 where project sites were located wholly or partly in protected areas, eco-sensitive zones or eco-sensitive areas. The government said the clearances followed the applicable environmental clearance process.

Regulatory oversight shapes future of tire pyrolysis

The reported compliance data show that India’s tire pyrolysis sector has substantial processing capacity but remains under active regulatory scrutiny. As demand grows for tire-derived oil, recovered carbon black, pyrolysis char and other recycled tire materials, consistent enforcement will be important for separating responsible operators from non-compliant facilities.

For the wider tire recycling industry, the figures point to a developing market in which pyrolysis can support resource recovery, but only where technology, environmental controls and downstream applications meet regulatory and industrial expectations.

Article source: Down to Earth.