Page 12 from: Recycling International September/October 2025
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UK TACKLES ILLEGAL TYRE EXPORTS TO INDIA
British regulators are introducing enhanced checks on the export of tyres after media reports
that millions were being incinerated in India instead of being recycled.
The Environment Agency (EA) concedes it is ‘highly likely’ that a proportion of exported tyres are
being diverted to illegal furnaces. It is the first time it has acknowledged the scale of the problem.
The EA reviewed the sector after revelations by the BBC in March that 70% of tyres exported to India
from the UK and the rest of the world ended up in makeshift industrial plants blighted by explosions,
fires and environmental hazards.
‘We have not been able to verify that exported waste pneumatic tyres are arriving at their intended
destination sites in India,’ the EA says, adding it has an obligation to prohibit exports of waste if
there is a risk that the waste will not be managed in an environmentally responsible way.
Enhanced checks from 1 October will require those exporting tyres to satisfy the EA that waste is
being recovered properly.
The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) and campaigners gave a lukewarm reaction, wanting the EA to
go further, fearing some loopholes remained to be exploited by criminals. The TRA is ‘very disap-
pointed’ the EA has not adopted the Australian example of banning exports of whole tyres.
Recyclers believe tyres should be exported only after shredding, making it more expensive and diffi-
cult to sell them illicitly in India
The founder of the pressure group Fighting Dirty, Georgia Elliott-Smith, said the plan sounded prom-
ising but appeared to be a system of self-certification paperwork with the threat of inspections ‘not
much different from today’s flawed protocol’.
BATTERY RECYCLER
SELLS EUROPEAN
OPERATIONS
Global battery recycler
Ecobat is selling its battery
and lead processing facili-
ties in Germany and Austria
to Clarios, a specialist in
energy storage solutions.
The deal includes Ecobat’s
facilities in Freiberg and
Braubach, Germany, as well
as the Arnoldstein operation
in Austria.
‘Upon completion, this trans-
action will enable Ecobat to
concentrate its efforts on
core recycling operations,
as well as our global lithium-
ion battery business,’ says
company ceo Tom Slabe.
‘Ecobat will continue to pur-
sue additional opportunities
to maximise value for share-
holders beyond these trans-
actions.’
Strong foundation
According to Slabe, Clarios’
expertise and vision offer ‘a
strong foundation for the
continued success’ of the
sites in Germany and Austria.
‘We are confident they will
continue to foster and
enhance the valued relation-
ships we have built with our
employees, customers and
suppliers across Europe.’
The transaction is expected
to close by early 2026.
07.10. – 10.10.2025
Lyon / France
27.10. – 28.10.2025
Bangkok / Thailand
04.11. – 07.11.2025
Rimini / Italy
THM Recycling Solutions GmbH
Sulzfelder Straße 38
75031 Eppingen
Germany
www.thm-rs.de
[email protected]
AG GRANULATOR
INPUT SUBSTITUTE FUELS OUTPUT SUBSTITUTE FUELS
Production & sales
Tel: +49 (0) 72 62-92 43-200
Fax: +49 (0) 72 62-92 43-29
“THE SPECIALIST FOR
SUBSTITUTE FUELS.“
We live
the rhythm
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