UK’s Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) reports that a Freedom of Information request (*FOI request submitted by ‘Tyre & Rubber Recycling’ magazine) has starkly exposed levels of non-compliance by many operators claiming ‘T8 exemptions’ for their businesses.

TRA says that in 2019 inspections of almost sixty sites carried out by the Environment Agency across England revealed more than one third to be legally non-compliant. Further action in the EA, conducted in the first 8 months of 2020, showed the situation to have further worsened with almost 50% of sites visited failing to meet legal requirements.

‘This confirms all our worst fears,’ said Peter Taylor OBE, TRA Secretary General, ‘T8 exemptions were intended to offer a ‘light’ touch regulating regime under which small businesses could operate but instead it has been very widely abused as we have long argued. In very many cases this approach allowed irresponsible players to flout the Law yet enjoy levels of overhead and compliance well below those of fully permitted businesses. We are pleased that government now intends to end this gateway to poor practice.’

The Tyre Recovery Association urges all those disposing of end-of-life tyres and especially vehicle dismantlers and tyre retailers to carefully scrutinise the compliance status of those to whom they pass on their waste, their own legal Duty of Care demands it. Tyre recycling industry’s own Responsible Recycler Scheme provides just that assurance of best practice. RRS members are audited and re-certificated annually and endeavour always to maintain high standards of service and compliance.

Press release by Tyre Recovery Association.