Australia banning waste tyre exports next month

From 1 December 2021, new laws in Australia will extend a ban on waste exports out of the country to tyres. It follows a cessation of unprocessed waste glass and mixed plastic exports earlier in the year.

Reporting this measure, Tyre Stewardship Australia says the change is part of a broader commitment by the Australian Government to reduce waste, increase recycling rates and build capacity in Australia’s recycling industry.

“The benefits to the environment will be significant and will help Australia reach its waste-related targets,” comments the association. “For industry it will mean new opportunities to innovate how we recover and reuse our waste. This will mean an expanded industry and new jobs. Recovering and reusing waste materials creates almost three times as many jobs as material going to landfill.”

The legislative change will still allow for tyres to be exported for overseas resale as used tyres, and permits passenger car, bus & truck and aviation tyres to be shipped abroad to a verified retreading facility for retreading. Exports of tyres that have been processed into crumbs, buffings, granules or shreds or tyres that have been processed into tyre-derived fuel will also be allowed, but exports of whole-baled tyres will be prohibited.

Exporters will require a license to continue sending waste tyres overseas and will be expected to declare each consignment to Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Applications for licenses are being accepted from 29 October.