Producer Responsibility
Tyre Disposal and the Landfill Directive
Background
The EC Landfill Directive will ban the land filling of whole used tyres from 2003 and shredded used tyres from 2006, although tyres can still be used for engineering purposes in landfills.
The Government appreciates the enormous impact the Landfill Directive will have on the disposal of used tyres but is confident that the extra tyre recovery capacity that will be needed as a result of the directive will be made available. The Government and the Environment Agency will need flexible and innovative approaches in looking for alternative uses for tyres.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
These FAQS are designed to address the issues related to the disposal of tyres, and are not intended to provide a comprehensive view of all regulations.
If you require further information on the Landfill Directive and tyre disposal please contact
www.autoindustry.co.uk/whatsnew/index.asp?sec=pr&key=DTIUTD
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/consult/landfill/index.htm
Q1. Will other Directives affect tyre disposal?
The End of Life Vehicles Directive will provide a significant driver to ensure that vehicle tyres are recovered and recycled, as the Directive sets recovery and recycling targets of 85% and 80% of the average weight of a vehicle respectively to be met by 1 January 2006. These targets increase to 95% and 85% respectively in 2015. Tyres constitute around 3% of the weight of a vehicle and it is expected that these targets are likely to lead to the almost complete recovery of value from used tyres arising from vehicles covered by the Directive. However, the Directive does only apply to smaller vehicles such as cars and vans and not to commercial vehicles such as lorries and buses which also give rise to significant tonnages of tyres.
Q2. How many tyres are disposed of per year?
The Used Tyre Working Group (UTWG) has estimated that around 430,000 tonnes (45 million tyres) were disposed of in 1999. Over 70% of used tyres are already recovered. The majority of the balance was land filled, although some will have been stored or illegally dumped.
Q3. What is the Government doing to identify possible methods for disposing of tyres?
The Government in partnership with the tyre industry through the Used Tyre Working Group (UTWG) is investigating alternative disposal, recycling and recovery options for those tyres displaced from landfill with the aim of ensuring that sufficient capacity is available to handle those tyres displaced from landfill. This initiative was established by the DTI although DEFRA staff attend meetings. The Environment Agency is also part of the group.
Q4. How will the UK dispose of the extra tyres?
- The prospect of the extra tyre recovery capacity being developed in time for the 2006 ban appears encouraging. It is likely that cement kilns (who use tyres as fuel) will take very significant numbers of tyres. Four cement kilns already have around 150,000 tonnes of fully authorised capacity per annum, and further applications for other kilns are being processed. Lafarge Cement, formerly Blue Circle, have stated that they are looking to take up to 180,000 tonnes of tyres a year for fuel. Castle Cement also uses tyres as a fuel, and is looking at taking tyres at their other kilns as is Rugby Cement.
- Coalite, based in Bolsover, are looking to pyrolise up to 90,000 tonnes of tyres per year (effectively cooking in the absence of oxygen). This breaks the tyre down to its constituent parts (rubber, carbon, gas, oil and steel), which can then be reused. They currently have installed capacity of 15,000 tonnes and are looking to prove the process before commissioning up to a further five 15,000 tonne units.
- In addition, the market for tyre granulate is growing. Tyre granulate has a number of applications including carpet underlay and sports and safety surfaces. Government is supporting a number of end-use studies including its incorporation in road surfaces and as an aggregate replacement in concrete. Tyres are also used extensively as a leachate drainage layer in landfill sites, and further civil engineering uses for tyres are currently being explored.
- More widely research is underway on creating longer-lasting tyres (without compromising safety) in order to help reduce the amount of tyres entering the waste stream in the first place.
Q5. What action are the DTI and the Environment Agency taking to improve tyre disposal?
The Department of Trade and Industry recently carried out a consultation exercise on a possible producer responsibility model for used tyres. This considered, not just the capacity that is needed to dispose of used tyres, but also to ensure that such tyres are adequately collected and appropriately handled. A further consultation exercise is planned.
The Environment Agency has set up a tyre campaign which aims to work with all stakeholders to reduce the problem caused by waste tyres in a sustainable way. The aims of the campaign are:
- to tackle illegal disposal of tyres by targeting fly tippers of tyres and other who dispose of them illegally, provide a tyres help line and take enforcement action using targeted intelligence led approach
- to tackle the problem of historic large dumps of tyres by getting them removed and disposed of properly
- work with industry to devise sustainable solutions in the market place for dealing with waste tyre arisings to prevent the problems above happening in the first place
Q6. Is any action being taken by the Government to tackle fly-tipping and the illegal disposal of tyres?
The Government is committed to dealing with the problems of fly tipped tyres and to helping local authorities and the Environment Agency in their role. There are, of course, strict controls to ensure that illegally deposited waste is dealt with properly. Fly tipping is a criminal activity with heavy penalties available, up to 2 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine, when convicted of the offence in the crown court.
Page last modified:
1 April 2005
Page published: 5 February 2003