The UK Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has been sounding the alarm for years, but now the subject of end-of-life tyre exports to India in general and to illegal pyrolysis plants in particular has come under the BBC’s spotlight. The issues are not new, but mass-media coverage means awareness is being raised both amongst the public […]
This years’ Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) Briefing Day event will take place on Tuesday 16 September 2025. The venue will be the Ardencote Hotel in Warwickshire’s Shakespeare’s country, which has the capacity to accommodate ever increasing attendance numbers at the UK tyre recycling’s premier event. Further details are expected to be released soon.
The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has warned the British government of the damage being caused to industry and the environment due to “an ongoing lack of action to deliver policy reform”.
Recent responses from the DEFRA minister responsible, Mary Creagh MP, are said to highlight the concern of recyclers that government “lack a grip on industry reality”. Specifically, “despite the British government’s stated commitment to bring an end to T8 exemptions there has been no date given to enact the policy, something of increasing concern to industry players as market conditions continue to deteriorate”
At the end of 2023, India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA) released a report which stated that India imported approximately 800,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres (ELT) between April and November 2023. The UK and EU member nations being the primary contributors. The UK was identified as one of the leading exporters of ELTs to India, supplying as much as 30 per cent of their import market. On 3 September, the EA clarified its position on the illegal export of ELTs to India for pyrolysis. Any waste export must be accompanied by a fully completed Annex VII. In response, the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) welcomed the EA’s statement of responsibilities and particularly the fact that it explicitly states that any waste export must be accompanied by a fully completed Annex VII.
Following the news that George Eustice, director, Penbroath Ltd and former secretary of state for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs 2020-2022 will be keynote speaker at the 2024 TRA briefing, the Tyre Recovery Association has revealed details of the rest of the sessions on 24 September 2024.
George Eustice, who was Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 2020-2022, will address the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) on Tuesday, 24 September 2024. Those attending the day will hear from the last administration’s the longest serving DEFRA minister. Eustice held numerous ministerial positions in the Environment department from 2013 until he stepped down as Secretary of State following the arrival of Liz Truss as Prime Minister in 2022.
Tuesday 24 September sees the largest gathering of the UK tyre recycling. Over 50 businesses are expected to be represented to hear from the leading industry experts and analysts at a time when the new government needs to focus on some crucial decisions to enable the industry to succeed. Indeed, such is the importance of the current season in the tyre recycling sector, “Without an update to the regulatory framework many fear the imminent demise of the UK’S domestic tyre recycling industry.”
Just a couple of weeks before the general election, the major parties published their manifestos. Meanwhile, in the tyre world, UK collection and recycling body, Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) launched its “election manifesto for the reform of UK rules to protect the environment and save UK capability”. The goal is to give “the British political leaders a clear agenda for the new government to implement, whoever wins the vote”.
“Britain will be the environmental sick man of Europe if government doesn’t act soon to update waste regulations,” according to the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA). Revealing the correspondence underway with the Secretary of State for the Environment and his department, the TRA statement makes public the issues the UK government are reportedly failing to engage with.
Vaculug, Europe’s largest independent retreader, joined the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) as a full member back in September, according to the Autumn/Winter TRA newsletter, which was published at the end of November.
At its Annual General Meeting held on 13 September 2023, the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) unanimously elected Bill Clarke of DME Tyres to be its new president for the next two years. Clarke succeeds Tim Stott of Murfitts Industries who is stepping down. DME Tyres were early supporters of the TRA having joined soon after its formation two decades ago.
Companies from across the UK gathered in Leamington Spa for the TRA’s annual briefing day and conference on Wednesday 13 September. Over 50 businesses sent representatives to hear from the leading industry experts and analysts at a time that British tyre recycling stands “at a critical crossroads”. Many reportedly fear the imminent demise of the UK’S domestic tyre recycling industry if things do not change.
With the UK alone generating some 600 kilotons of post-consumer rubber annually and with the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) and its Responsible Recycler members handling the lion’s share of it all, connecting with the latest developments in the field is as important as ever.
Following the news that the TRA Briefing Day is returning on 13 September 2023, the Tyre Recovery Association has released details of the speaker line-up.
The Environment Agency, Calderdale Council, Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue report that they recently uncovered two sites operating illegally in Calderdale and Bradford. As a result, Shakil Ahmed (42), of Halifax, Jamie Craggs (34), of Bradford, and Levi Depass (35) Shipley, appeared at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday 12 July after earlier pleading guilty.
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