Tess Munt MP used the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) Briefing Day 2026 in Coventry to call for tighter regulation of end-of-life tire exports, stronger enforcement of digital waste tracking and greater use of green public procurement to support the UK tire recycling and retreading sector. Speaking to more than 100 representatives from tire recovery, retreading, retail, manufacturing, regulation and trade associations, the MP for Wells and Mendip Hills argued that current policy allows large volumes of whole waste tires to leave the UK while significant licensed domestic recycling and remanufacturing capacity remains unused. Her proposals included removing T8 waste exemptions, introducing a shred-only export model similar to Australia’s, requiring verifiable proof of arrival for exported tires and setting procurement requirements for retreaded tires and rubberized asphalt. The event also featured discussion of UK road conditions, rubber-modified asphalt and domestic circular economy capacity, with participation from the TRA, NTDA, BTMA and ITMA.

Munt calls for four tire policy reforms

Munt outlined four areas where she said government action is needed. The first was the statutory withdrawal of T8 exemptions, which the TRA has long argued create an uneven regulatory environment between permitted tire recyclers and operators working under exemptions.

Her second proposal was a shred-only export requirement modeled on Australian rules. Under such an approach, whole and baled end-of-life tires would no longer be exported without initial processing, with the aim of ensuring that part of the recycling process takes place under UK environmental standards.

Munt also called for stronger digital proof-of-arrival requirements for exported tires, including timestamped and geotagged evidence that shipments reach accredited facilities. Her fourth proposal focused on green public procurement, including minimum use of retreaded tires in suitable public fleets and increased deployment of rubberized asphalt in public road projects.

TRA highlights gap between exports and domestic capacity

According to figures presented by the TRA and cited in Munt’s speech, the UK exports more than 1,000 tonnes of whole end-of-life tires per day, equivalent to nearly 400,000 tonnes annually. The association says a large share of these exports is sent to non-OECD countries, including India, and argues that the environmental performance of downstream treatment can be difficult to verify consistently.

At the same time, the TRA says more than 150,000 tonnes of licensed UK tire recycling and remanufacturing capacity is currently idle. Munt described this combination of high exports and unused domestic capacity as a policy contradiction that affects investment, employment and the development of local circular economy infrastructure.

Digital waste tracking becomes key point of debate

Munt also focused on the Environment Agency’s Digital Waste Tracking requirements. She said domestic operators are being asked to provide increasingly detailed digital records while requirements for exported tires have, in her view, been weakened or delayed.

According to the speech, proof-of-arrival compliance for exported tires had previously been around 20% before later changes to implementation. Munt argued that digital tracking should apply consistently across both domestic and export routes if regulators want to establish reliable end-to-end traceability.

TRA continues to push for shred-only tire exports

The TRA supports a policy under which whole waste tires would no longer be exported and would instead have to undergo initial processing in the UK. The association says this could improve traceability, create a more level regulatory environment and increase use of domestic tire recycling capacity.

The organization points to Australia’s shred-only export framework as a model. Its position is that removing whole-tire export routes could make it more difficult for poorly documented or non-compliant shipments to leave the country while increasing demand for UK-based processing.

Rubberized asphalt discussed as major domestic market

The Briefing Day also examined rubberized asphalt as a potential large-volume outlet for recycled tire rubber. Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation, presented on the condition of Britain’s roads and discussed how recycled tire rubber could be incorporated more widely into highway maintenance and resurfacing programs.

Delegates heard that a 10% target for rubberized asphalt in public highway contracts could absorb all currently idle UK crumb rubber capacity. The event also cited potential road traffic noise reductions of approximately 3 to 5 dB and longer pavement service life as possible benefits of rubber-modified asphalt, depending on project design and operating conditions.

Green procurement seen as demand-side solution

A recurring theme at the event was that tire recycling capacity alone does not create a circular economy unless there is sufficient demand for recycled and remanufactured products. The TRA is therefore calling for statutory green procurement measures that would increase public-sector demand for retreaded tires, recycled rubber and rubberized asphalt.

Such measures could create more predictable domestic markets for tire-derived materials and reduce reliance on export channels. They could also support investment in crumb rubber production, tire retreading, remanufacturing and other higher-value recovery routes.

Four major UK tire associations attend event

The conference brought together representatives from small independent collectors, major tire reprocessors, retread manufacturers, equipment suppliers, global tire producers and policy advisors. The TRA said the breadth of participation demonstrated growing industry attention to end-of-life tire management and domestic market development.

All four major UK tire trade associations participated: the Tyre Recovery Association, National Tyre Distributors Association, British Tyre Manufacturers' Association and Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association. Their presence highlighted the potential for broader cooperation across collection, recycling, manufacturing, distribution and retreading.

TRA warns domestic tire recovery sector needs stronger markets

TRA Secretary General Peter Taylor OBE said the UK tire recovery industry has the processing infrastructure, technical capability and private investment needed to expand, but requires a stronger regulatory and commercial framework. He said the association wants government and regulators to address whole-tire exports, T8 exemptions and green procurement more decisively.

The TRA argues that the future of the UK tire recycling sector will depend not only on waste regulation, but also on the development of domestic demand for recycled tire materials and remanufactured products. Its current policy priorities therefore combine export controls, regulatory enforcement and market creation.

TRA links tire policy with domestic circular resilience

The 2026 Briefing Day positioned end-of-life tire management as both an environmental and industrial issue. The association’s proposals are intended to keep more tire-derived materials within the UK economy, support compliant recyclers and retreaders, and create stronger markets for recycled rubber and remanufactured tires.

For the UK tire recycling sector, the central question is increasingly how collection, processing, traceability and procurement policy can work together. The TRA’s position is that stronger domestic demand, tighter export controls and consistent enforcement would help move more end-of-life tires into regulated recycling, retreading and rubberized asphalt applications.

Information source: TRA.