The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has renewed its call for the UK government to introduce a ban on the export of whole and baled end-of-life tyres (ELTs), urging policymakers to adopt a regulatory approach similar to that implemented in Australia.

In a letter to Mary Creagh MP, the TRA argues that a mandatory “shred-only” export regime is needed to curb environmentally harmful exports, provide regulatory certainty, and stimulate long-term investment in domestic tyre processing capacity. According to the association, continued exports of unprocessed tyres undermine legitimate UK recyclers and contribute to pollution in countries with weaker environmental oversight.

The TRA’s position is supported by its recent briefing paper, The Australian Model: A Case Study for the UK, which examines the impact of Australia’s tyre export reforms introduced four years ago. Australia’s framework, implemented through the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 and associated rules, introduced licensing requirements for tyre exporters and banned the export of whole and baled tyres from December 2021. Exports are only permitted for processed materials such as shreds, granules, crumb rubber or tyre-derived fuel, with overseas end markets verified through Tyre Stewardship Australia’s Foreign End Market program.

According to the TRA, this regulatory certainty has helped drive growth in Australia’s domestic ELT reprocessing sector and secondary industries, while effectively stopping the export of environmental waste. Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General of the TRA, said the association has seen positive steps from the Environment Agency in addressing irresponsible exports, but warned that progress remains too slow for UK operators. He stated that replicating the Australian model would be one of the most effective ways to protect the environment while supporting economic growth.

The association also highlighted structural issues within the UK system, including the continued use of the T8 exemption, which allows limited storage and processing of whole tyres without a full environmental permit. The TRA is calling for the exemption to be abolished, alongside the introduction of digital, geotagged export tracking and mandatory reporting across the export supply chain. While the government has indicated its intention to end the exemption through the proposed Waste Tyres Bill, the TRA has expressed frustration at the lack of a clear implementation timeline.

The TRA maintains that the UK already has significant underutilised recycling capacity and that a shred-only export mandate could unlock investment in shredding, crumbing and advanced recycling technologies, while supporting downstream markets such as asphalt, construction materials and alternative fuels.

Sources: letsrecycle.com and Tyre and Rubber Recycling.