More than 100,000 used tyres are removed from UK vehicles daily and the EU Landfill Directive introduced a ban on whole tyres being landfilled in July 2003 and a ban on shredded tyres to landfill came into force in 2006. Illegal tyre dumping and stockpiling is also a significant environmental threat.
There are two programmes within the Waste Protocols Project associated with tyres that address needed end uses for tyres.
The first of these is a quality protocol for tyre-derived rubber materials (TDRM). It will make it easier and cheaper for industry to fully recover used tyres to produce valuable products like flooring, road surfacing material, aggregates and footwear.
The second examines the use of tyres as tyre bales – whereby they are fastened together and used in engineering projects.
What are the benefits?
By 2016, we calculate that compliance with the quality protocol for TDRM could save businesses over £934,000 in waste management charges and stimulate recyclate markets worth over £15.4 million. Compliance with the waste protocol for TDRM could save over 166,000 tonnes of raw material in the ten years from 2008.
We do not yet have statistics for tyre bales.
The current status
The quality protocol for tyre-derived rubber materials has completed its journey through the Waste Protocols Project process and been published as a final protocol.
You can use this link to download the final quality protocol.
Producers can show customers that product complies with both PAS 107 and the TDRM Quality Protocol by obtaining a certificate from the TDRM Certification Scheme. Certification means customers can be confident that your product meets the quality standards required for use and can be legitimately used without the need for a waste permit. You can advertise your compliance and quality product by using the certified recycled tyre product stamp. The scheme is approved by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS).
You can also download:
Find out how we regulate the production and use of tyre-derived rubber materials.
The waste protocol for tyre bales was introduced into the project in the 2009-2010 financial year. Over the coming months we will carry out technical, financial and risk assessments on the viability of developing a quality protocol. We will post these to this website.
In the meantime you can read our regulatory positions on the use of tyre bales in above- and below-ground engineered construction:
Please be aware that the exemptions review came into force on the 1 April 2010 and you may be required to apply for a exemption or permit. Please see the following link for more details:
Get involved
If you produce or recycle tyres into powder, crumb or shred, then it is likely to be in your interests to comply with the quality protocol. See above for links to the documentation.
Find out which recyclers can use your waste. A good place to start is the Waste Directory.
If you are an end user you can be assured of the quality of tyre-derived rubber materials which are compliant with the protocol.
If you are a producer or potential end user of tyre bales you can submit your details to Waste Protocols and we will notify you when the documents are published and/or a quality protocol goes to UK consultation.
Bookmark this page to review future information.
If the technical and financial assessments look favourable we will launch a public consultation – please check back in late 2010.
More information
If you would like further help, please email Waste Protocols.
