Used tyres, waste tyres

What you must do

Most tyres can no longer be disposed of in landfill sites, although whole tyres can still be used by landfill sites for engineering purposes.

Tyres from heavy plant that have an outside diameter greater than 1.4 metres can still be disposed of at landfills that have a suitable authorisation.

If you have tyres to dispose of, ask your waste disposal contractor for disposal options in your area.

Alternatively, to find contractors in your area who can recycle or dispose of waste tyres, use the waste directory.

Find your nearest waste site

Recycled tyres

If your business recycles materials, both on or off your site, you must meet certain regulations to ensure you recycle safely and legally.

• Duty of care - your waste responsibilities
• Reduce, reuse and recycle your business waste

Current destinations for waste tyres include:

• re-treading tyres
• re-using part-worn tyres
• landfill engineering
• export for use abroad
• fuel (primarily in cement kilns)
• stockpiles

In Scotland

You must have an EASR authorisation to store and treat waste tyres.

Garages that replace tyres and collect waste tyres prior to disposal may not need to apply to SEPA for authorisation, if the relevant General Binding Rules are followed.

SEPA: Storage as part of collection

Further information

• DAERA: Regulatory Position Statement – Reuse and Recycling Routes for Waste Tyres in Northern Ireland
• SEPA: Position statement on the export of shredded waste tyres