A slightly cheeky headline. Despite not being in favour of Extended Producer Responsibility in the UK, the TRA has welcomed the Indian government’s announcement of an action plan for the management of its increasing volumes of waste.
TRA in Favour of EPR
Along with its rapidly rising vehicle population waste tyre arisings have also been swelling exponentially, but so too have imports of old tyres from many western countries, some of which evidence suggests have ended up being processed in illegal or environmentally unsuitable ways.
The TRA believes that the new recycling requirements proposed by India for progressive implementation starting later this year should introduce much-needed recycling compliance as well as constrain often illegal shipments of tyre waste from western countries including the UK.
“Illegal waste export activity involving tyres is something we in the UK have long lobbied to end” states Tim Stott, TRA President<strong>;< strong=””> “It undermines responsible operators here at home where it inhibits further investment in domestic processing capacity and cheats on the motoring public who have a right to expect good practice. Sadly, the UK and most Western governments have been slow to act to restrain this trade but now are pleased to note that India itself as Asia’s largest importer of waste tyres is now doing so.”</strong>;<>
It would be remiss of Tyre and Rubber Recycling not to mention that the UK remains the largest single exporter of waste, including tyres, to India. And for so long as the UK government allows the export of waste to destinations where it loses control of the final use, we will never see any real development of the UK domestic tyre recycling sector. It is good that the TRA has spoken up about “slow to act” Western governments, but we need to see more pressure put on government, on their agencies, and the public to highlight the lack of domestic treatment for our waste tyres.
