A Growing Problem
Used tyres are a major waste problem in Australia. Every year, millions of tyres are discarded, and the number is growing. In 2023, 58% of used tyres were recovered for re-use or reprocessing, but the remaining 225,000 tonnes ended up in landfills, stockpiles, or were illegally dumped.
One example of this problem is a stockpile of around one million used tyres near Longford, Tasmania. This stockpile has been growing for over 15 years and is operating illegally. The Tasmanian Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the owner to remove the tyres, but there is currently no place in Tasmania where they can be processed.
Illegal dumping of used tyres is another major problem. In Victoria, the EPA is working to prevent illegal dumping by inspecting businesses that generate used tyres. While some businesses are aware of their obligations, others are not. The EPA is also concerned about illegal operators who offer to pick up used tyres for very low rates.
Landfill is still an option for used tyres in some parts of the country, but recyclers say that this loophole needs to be closed. They are calling for a consistent regulatory framework across the country to ensure that unprocessed tyres are banned from landfill.
The ultimate goal is to make sure that the markets are able to drive the value of recovered products like tyres. However, this process is not free or cheap, and governments need to help spur demand for products made from used tyres.
Eventually, all used tyres may be recycled or repurposed. But as long as landfills remain a cheaper alternative, that is unlikely to happen.