The Indian Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has called for an immediate ban on waste tyre imports, citing a more than fivefold increase in such imports since fiscal year 2020-21
This is a return to the ATMA stance before the introduction of the EPR scheme in India.
In February 2019, the Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association in New Delhi explained … why it is lobbying hard to ban their import altogether.

Mr Vinay Vijayvargiya, deputy director, technical, of ATMA, pointed out two main concerns. He said, “The foreign countries want a dumping ground for used tyres. So, they give them away at throwaway prices.
“Once imported, they sell like hot cakes across India. They are either reused in vehicles, even though they are unsuitable for our roads, and are hazardous, or they are burnt in pyrolysis plants to get cheap fuels and oils.” Pyrolysis plants across India have recently come under the scanner of several states for failing to meet environmental pollution standards.”

In February 2024 -The Chairman of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association, Anshuman Singhania, raised concerns over the staggering statistic that India imported around 8.8 lakh million tonnes [sic] of scrapped tyres between April and November 2023 –These tyres, originate predominantly from the United Kingdom, West Asia, and Europe, and are burnt or retreaded and resold in the aftermarket—a practice that poses both environmental and safety hazards, according to ATMA.

July 2024 Raising the concern, ATMA Chairman Arnab Banerjee said;”The import of waste/scrap tyres into India needs to be restricted through policy measures and, if necessary, allowed only in multiple cut or shredded form.”
At the TRA Forum in September, Rajiv Budhraja, Director General India’s Automotive Tyre Manufacturer’s Association argued that ATMA was calling for cut or shredded tyres only to be imported.

Now, ATMA has returned to its original stance calling for an immediate ban on waste tyre imports, citing a more than fivefold increase in such imports since fiscal year 2020-21. According to Ministry of Commerce data, waste and scrap tyre imports have surged from 264,000 metric tonnes in FY21 to 1.398 million metric tonnes in FY24.
In its pre-budget submission to the government, ATMA Chairman Arnab Banerjee stated that the rising imports conflict with India’s Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Regulation on Waste Tyres, implemented in July 2022. The regulation aims to ensure proper management of end-of-life tyres through systematic collection and disposal.
India produces over 200 million tyres annually, making it one of the world’s major tyre manufacturing nations. The domestic industry generates sufficient end-of-life tyres to meet the country’s recycling needs, making scrap tyre imports unnecessary, according to ATMA.
The growing volume of imported waste tyres poses environmental and safety challenges, potentially straining India’s waste management infrastructure. Improper tyre disposal can create fire hazards and contribute to environmental pollution.
The Indian tyre industry has seen significant growth over the past decade, with domestic manufacturers expanding capacity to meet both local and export demand. The country’s tyre sector accounts for about 3% of global production, with major players operating multiple manufacturing facilities across different states.
ATMA, representing major tyre manufacturers in India, has emphasised the need to strengthen domestic recycling capabilities rather than relying on imports. The association has previously worked with the government on various industry initiatives, including quality control orders and raw material availability.
Should India impose a total ban on the import of waste tyres, the UK would face a crisis of capacity and markets. However, lobbying from the very strong Indian recycling sector is likely to cause the government to fall short on a total ban.