India is increasingly becoming a destination for waste or scrap tyres with the imports surging five-fold since FY21
According to data released by the Ministry of Commerce, the import of waste or scrap tyres which was 2.64 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in FY21 has risen to 13.98 lakh MT in FY24. According to the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA), this rise in unregulated imports is posing significant environmental and safety risks.
Contrary to the aims of the EPR scheme, imports of waste tyres have increased annually. There is a clear lack of control.
“The indiscriminate import of waste/scrap tyres undermines the objectives of the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Regulation on Waste Tyres, which came into effect in July 2022. EPR regulations were designed to ensure the responsible management of End of Life Tyres (ELT). However, the unchecked import of waste or scrap tyres not only contradicts these efforts but also burdens India’s waste management infrastructure”, said Arnab Banerjee, Chairman ATMA.
India produces over 200 million tyres annually. This volume generates enough domestic ELT capacity for recycling and disposal. The environmental and safety implications of unregulated tyre waste are grave said the Deccan Chronicle. Improperly disposed waste tyres can lead to severe pollution, fire hazards, and health risks. By banning imports of scrap tyres, India can bolster its domestic recycling industry and further its commitment to sustainable development.
In this latest round of publicity about waste tyre imports in India, there seems to be a change in attitude. A stronger call from ATMA may lead to a change in thinking on imports.
This should be screaming out warnings to major exporters such as the UK. If the Indian government sides with the tyre manufacturers, the UK is going to face a real challenge in disposing of its tyres. Contrary to the current thinking that tyres are not a priority for the UK’s DeFRA, they could very rapidly become a not inconsiderable challenge.
