India: World’s dumping ground for waste tyres?

New Delhi, March 26: A recent BBC investigative report article published on their website has unveiled a disturbing and cruel reality: the United Kingdom is shipping millions of used tyres to India under the guise of recycling, only for them to end up in unregulated and hazardous pyrolysis plants.

This part of the practice is not only illegal but also severely detrimental to the environment and public health in India.

According to the BBC’s File on 4 investigations, the article “Millions of UK tyres meant for recycling sent to furnaces in India” showcases that the majority of the UK's exported waste tyres are funnelled into India’s black market.

Elliot Mason, owner of one of the UK's largest tyre recycling plants, acknowledged, "I don't imagine there's anybody in the industry who doesn't know it's happening."

The UK government, through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), insists it has stringent regulations on waste tyre exports, with penalties including unlimited fines and jail time.

According to the article, approximately half of the UK's 50 million annual waste tyres are sent to India, where they should theoretically be processed in regulated recycling facilities. Instead, a staggering 70% of these tyres, according to the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), end up in makeshift pyrolysis plants.

The Dangers of Pyrolysis Plants

The article while explaining the Pyrolysis says it is a process in which tyres are heated in an oxygen-free environment at around 500°C, yielding steel, carbon black, and small amounts of oil. However, this method also emits dangerous gases and chemicals that pose severe health risks. Many of these plants, often located in rural areas, operate illegally and under dangerous conditions.

The BBC, in collaboration with the non-profit journalism group SourceMaterial, tracked UK tyre shipments to India using hidden GPS trackers. The shipments eventually arrived at an Indian port before traveling to a soot-covered compound where thousands of tyres were awaiting incineration. Drone footage confirmed their fate—burned in massive, unregulated furnaces.

The report further investigates that the villagers near such plants, including those in Wada, a district near Mumbai, have reported widespread respiratory issues, including persistent coughs and eye problems.

One resident stated to BBC, "We want these companies moved from our village; otherwise, we will not be able to breathe freely."

Beyond the health implications, these plants have also proven to be physically dangerous.

In January, the article says a tragic explosion at a pyrolysis plant in Wada—processing tyres sourced from Europe—killed two women and two children. Despite BBC inquiries, the owners of the plant have remained silent.

The local authorities in response then had shut down seven such plants, but this is merely a drop in the ocean.

Loopholes and Lax Enforcement

Although India has made it illegal to use imported tyres for pyrolysis, UK traders continue to exploit regulatory loopholes.

Many businesses prefer exporting baled tyres rather than investing in costly shredding machinery.

Under the UK's T8 exemption rule, smaller operators can store and process up to 40 tonnes of tyres weekly. However, multiple dealers admitted to the BBC that they exceed this limit, often exporting far more than allowed.

One dealer, who sent 10 shipping containers of tyres to India in a single week—over five times his legal limit—admitted that he knew they would be used for pyrolysis.

When asked about the health risks, his response was: "These issues are international. Brother, we can't do anything... I'm not a health minister."

Campaigners like Georgia Elliott-Smith of Fighting Dirty argue that the UK government must take greater responsibility and classify used tyres as "hazardous waste."

The article says Australia has already taken decisive action, banning exports of baled tyres in 2021 after auditors confirmed widespread fraud in recycling claims.

A Call for Action

If true, the revelations are shocking and need a high-level investigation. They highlight how developed nations, particularly the UK, continue to exploit developing countries by offloading their waste.

India, as we all know, is already grappling with severe air and water pollution issues, and it cannot afford to become a global dumping ground for hazardous waste.

The government needs to take this article seriously and must tighten enforcement and shut down illegal pyrolysis plants. Simultaneously, the UK must be held accountable for the consequences of its waste policies.

Authorities should impose strict penalties on those found guilty of exporting tyres under false pretences and ensure transparency in the recycling industry.

The time for complacency has long passed. Lives are at stake, and urgent action is required to prevent further environmental and human loss.