UK shredder operator members of the British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) declined to accept tyres for shredding as from July 7 - unless there was an identified end market or the operator agreed in advance to take delivery.As part of the EU Landfill Directive, a ban on sending shredded tyres to landfill came into effect in mid-July. According to BMRA Director General Lindsay Millington, the organisation's shredder operators 'feel it is important to take a responsible position, and we are working closely with the Environment Agency towards a very significant reduction of tyres in shredder waste. However, we will only achieve complete eradication when all the loopholes are closed to prevent illegal end-of-life vehicles (ELV) activity.’
There will be a crack-down on operators who flout the requirement contained within ELV regulations that tyres must be removed as part of the de-pollution process.
A common position has also been agreed among BMRA shredder operators that suppliers found to have deliberately concealed tyres or bales will not be tolerated, and defaulters may find themselves banned. As the tyre ban at landfills comes into effect, a number of ELV dismantlers and waste management companies have expressed concern over a lack of end markets.
Statistics for 2004 put total tyre arisings in the UK at 475 232 tonnes.
