The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has confirmed the speaker line-up and programme for its flagship Briefing Day 2026, taking place on Tuesday 15 September 2026
The 2026 TRA Briefing Day will bring industry and stakeholders together to discuss this year’s theme called “Giving REAL meaning to the Circular Economy,” including voices from across government, environmental regulation, retail and manufacturing coming together to talk about critical issues facing the UK waste tyre sector.
From the impending rollout of mandatory Digital Waste Tracking to the statutory phase-out of T8 exemptions and the opportunities arising from meaningful public policy reform, the event will explore how the UK can move away from offshoring environmental liabilities and instead build a high-value, domestic circular economy.
Opening the day will be the keynote address by Tessa Munt MP, followed by a direct audit of government progress from former DEFRA Secretary of State George Eustice.
Senior Environment Agency representatives will deliver crucial operational updates, including Tom Ellis on the rollout of national Digital Waste Tracking, and Matthew Kendall on the long-awaited T8 Exemption transitional arrangements and new standard rules preview.
Director, RAC Foundation Steve Gooding CB FCILT FCIHT will lead a landmark session on rubberised asphalt, featuring international market perspectives from Luis Alfonso de León, TRS Polymers, Spain and domestic infrastructure analysis from Richard Hutchins, PRG Scotland Ltd.
Hive Strategy’s Founder Director, Giles Bancroft, will look at setting out how state purchasing power can unlock idle British reprocessing capacity, drive commercial demand for remanufactured assets and accelerate the development of the UK’s Circular Economy.
Ian Andrew, CEO, National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), will address retail supply chain leadership, alongside innovations in sustainable aviation fuels from Gates Green Solutions Ltd and market intelligence from Simon Hodson (Astutus Research).
The afternoon will conclude with a valedictory address by Ewan Scott, Editor of Tyre and Rubber Recycling.
Commenting on the forthcoming industry gathering, Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General of the Tyre Recovery Association, said: “For years, the UK has operated under a policy framework that allows over 1,000 tonnes of whole waste tyres to leave our shores every single day, while over 150,000 tonnes of licensed domestic reprocessing and remanufacturing capacity sits idle. That is not a circular economy; it is the export of our environmental responsibilities.
“The 2026 Briefing Day comes at a pivotal moment. With major regulatory shifts on digital tracking, T8 exemptions and green public procurement converging, this conference is where policy meets industrial reality. We are bringing regulators, parliamentarians and operators into one room to prove that by adopting smart procurement, enforcing strict export standards and keeping high-grade rubber and steel onshore, we can build a resilient, high-value British green industry. We encourage all industry stakeholders, media, and policymakers to join us on 15th September.”
