A shocking BBC investigation has revealed that millions of UK waste tyres exported to India for “recycling” are actually being burned in dangerous makeshift furnaces, poisoning communities and bypassing environmental laws.
Key Findings:
- 50 million UK tyres (half of annual waste) are shipped to India yearly
- 70% end up in illegal pyrolysis plants – primitive furnaces that release toxic fumes
- Trackers followed tyres to soot-covered compounds where villagers report health crises
- UK dealers admit exporting 5x legal limits, falsely labeling shipments as “recycling”
The Human Cost
In Wada, near Mumbai:
- Blackened landscapes and polluted waterways surround pyrolysis plants
- Villagers suffer chronic coughs, eye damage, and cancers
- 4 deaths occurred in a January explosion at a plant processing European tyres
How the Scam Works
- UK garages charge £3-6 per tyre for “recycling”
- Small operators exploit loopholes to export 250+ tonnes weekly (vs 40t legal limit)
- Tyres are baled and shipped with fake “recycling” paperwork
- In India, they’re burned in unlicensed pyrolysis furnaces for oil/steel extraction
Industry Whistleblowers Speak
- “90% of English exporters know this happens” – Tyre dealer to undercover BBC reporter
- “I’m not a health minister” – Another dealer shrugging off pollution concerns
- Australia banned tyre exports after audits proved 100% were misdirected
What Needs to Change?
- Redefine tyres as hazardous waste to tighten export rules (campaigner demand)
- Invest in UK recycling instead of offloading pollution to Global South
- Close T8 exemption loopholes allowing small operators to bypass regulations
Defra Response:
The UK government says it’s “committed to a circular economy” and considering waste reforms – but critics argue action is overdue.
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