Annual Export of 50 Million Waste Tyres from the UK to India, According to Research
In recent years, there has been growing concern over the export of waste tyres from the United Kingdom to India, with some shipments reportedly reaching up to 500 tonnes being traded at Indian ports. This practice, while regulated under hazardous waste laws and international trade agreements, has raised questions about its legality, environmental impact, and safety risks.
The UK's regulations align with frameworks like the EU's on Waste Tyres, and any exports must comply with the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules overseen by environmental authorities. Recyclers in India operate under updated regulations requiring Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which implies that tyre producers/importers must ensure proper recycling certification. However, there is no public record of specific legal disputes concerning waste tyre exports to India.
Waste tyres pose considerable environmental challenges if improperly disposed of, including fire risks, toxic emissions, and breeding grounds for disease vectors. India generates about 0.6 million tons of scrap tyre annually, stressing the importance of effective recycling measures such as pyrolysis, which converts tyres into reusable products while minimising pollution. Without proper regulation and infrastructure, imported waste tyres could exacerbate local environmental degradation and health hazards.
The risk of tyre fires, exposure to hazardous chemicals released during improper tyre disposal, and unregulated waste processing constitute significant safety concerns associated with waste tyre imports. India's government mandates licensing and environmental compliance for recycling operations to mitigate these risks. If UK exports of waste tyres to India increase without stringent regulatory and safety oversight, these risks may be amplified.
The import of waste or scrap tyres in India increased from 2.64 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in FY21 to 13.98 lakh MT in FY24, according to Ministry of Commerce data. The traded tyres are resold by brokers to fuel makers running rural pyrolysis plants, with over 50 million British waste tyres being burned for fuel in India each year.
The UK government is facing a legal challenge over this practice, with the campaign group Fighting Dirty, represented by law firm Leigh Day, leading the charge. The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) previously expressed concerns about the rise in unregulated tyre imports, citing environmental and safety risks.
In summary, while there is strong regulation in both countries of tyre manufacturing and recycling industries, no current public records explicitly detail legal challenges or health/environmental impact controversies specifically around UK waste tyre exports to India. The environmental and safety risks of waste tyre management underscore the need for strict adherence to hazardous waste laws and effective recycling infrastructure on both sides. This practice has grave consequences for human health and the environment, and it is crucial that all parties involved take steps to ensure that waste tyres are disposed of responsibly and sustainably.
- The practice of exporting waste tyres from the UK to India, despite being regulated under international law and trade agreements, has sparked concerns related to its legality, environmental impact, and safety risks in the context of environmental science and industry finance.
- Increasing imports of waste tyres from the UK to India, as indicated by the Ministry of Commerce data, could amplify safety concerns associated with fire risks, release of hazardous chemicals, and unregulated waste processing, matters that are of concern to environmental-science researchers and risk managers in the finance sector.
- Given the severe environmental challenges of improperly disposed waste tyres, as well as the need for effective recycling methods like pyrolysis in environmental science and energy production, it is essential that both the UK and India work together to uphold strict adherence to hazardous waste laws and develop robust recycling infrastructure, ensuring responsible and sustainable waste tyre disposal for the benefit of human health and the environment.
