The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has welcomed the UK Government’s decision to withdraw the T8 exemption for the mechanical treatment of end-of-life tyres (ELTs), describing the move as an important step towards tackling unfair competition and improving conditions for legitimate tyre recyclers
The new regulations are due to come into force on 6 January 2027, following parliamentary approval. Existing T8 exemption holders will have until 6 April 2027 to transition to full standard rules or a bespoke environmental permit if they wish to continue treating waste tyres.
The TRA has campaigned for the removal of the exemption for eight years, arguing that the system has undercut environmentally compliant British reprocessors and allowed rogue operators to exploit gaps in regulation.
Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General of the TRA, said: “We are delighted that the measure necessary to remove the T8 exemption is now before Parliament. After the years of campaigning for this change, it is almost hard to believe that it is now a real prospect!
“Industry must now prepare for the change and the timeline set out for that is sensible. As we celebrate this moment, we also know that the end of the ill-judged and destructive T8 regime will still not solve all our problems, but it is an essential first step in improving market dynamics and building investor confidence.
“We can now look forward with a measure of optimism. We will work closely with the Environment Agency during the transition period to support those operators who will want to apply for a complete waste environmental permit. This must be done well before the 6 April 2027 deadline to ensure they can legally continue their operations.
“The TRA will continue to champion the UK’s waste tyre industry as not only an essential enabler of the circular economy but as a resource for renewed domestic industrial activity. The vital next step for that is a shred-only export regime, but today we can celebrate progress.”
