As the new year of 2026 rolls in, the UK tyre recovery sector finds itself at a crossroads. The past year has provided reasons to be cheerful, first the BBC Tyre Scandal programme finally honed focus, secondly the Minister for Waste promised ‘a little more action’ and thirdly we have seen the Environment Agency begin to sharpen its teeth to get on top of exports with the introduction of the digital Annex VII. However, while we welcome these steps, 2026 must be the year we move from incremental progress to meaningful reform and real action.
The ambition for Britain’s policy makers this year should be clear, stop exporting environmental waste and enable domestic operators. As things stand, and as we await the evidence of the impact of the digital Annex VII’s, the UK still posses over 150,000 tonnes of licensed, idle domestic tyre recycling capacity, with the capacity to grow further to match demand. Latest data shows we continue to export approximately 300,000 tonnes of whole or baled tyres annually. And, as we all now know, too often, this waste ends up in unregulated batch-pyrolysis plants abroad. Consecutive governments’ rhetoric on creating a zero-waste economy fall short if we continue to export our environmental waste responsibilities.
In August the TRA launched our paper “Road to Reform” which centred on three non-negotiable pillars and provides our policy makers with a clear agenda for 2026:
- Mandating a ‘Shred-Only’ export policy: Follow the successful Australian model. The UK must legislate to ensure that no baled whole waste tyres leave our shores. Processing tyres into shred or crumb before export is the single most effective lever to trigger domestic investment and ensure environmental oversight.
- Ending the T8 exemption: The era of “grey-market” operators must end. For too long we have been calling on the government to finally close the T8 loophole, ensuring all collectors and processors operate under a level playing field of strict environmental permits. It looks like it will finally happen this year but still details and dates remain unconfirmed.
- Unlocking the Circular Economy: By keeping materials at home, we can feed the burgeoning UK markets for rubberised asphalt, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), pyrolysis and high-grade recovered carbon black.
The technology for a digital, transparent chain of custody exists today. The domestic capacity is waiting. In 2026, the Tyre Recovery Association will continue to fight for the regulatory certainty that our members and our planet deserve. Let us make this the year the UK stops exporting its problems, builds its domestic economy and stands ready to start exporting the best practice policy necessary for a truly circular economy.
