Following the release of the BBC’s expose on the irresponsible use of ELTs exported from the UK to India, three leaders from the UK’s tyre recovery industry respond.
Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General of the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA), said: “The reality of the environmental damage caused by UK whole-tyre exports has been publicly exposed. I congratulate the BBC for shining a light on a trade that contradicts the British government’s rhetoric of good environmental practice. The TRA have been campaigning on this issue for years.
“Ministers responsible for waste and environmental policy should stop twiddling their fingers and undertake the simple policy reform that can end this immediately.
“DEFRA told the BBC programme makers there are strict controls in place to protect the natural environment, yet File of 4’s ‘The Tyre Scandal’ contradicts DEFRA’s statement. The evidence is now there for all to make their own mind up.
“It is now time to end T8 exemptions and ban the export non-shred end-of-life tyres.”
Bill Clarke, Managing Director of DME Tyres and President of the TRA, said: “Well done the BBC for making this documentary. It is time for ministers to just bring an end to the T8 exemption and ban the export of baled end-of-life whole tyres. Then we can protect the environment and grow Britain’s domestic capability to deliver the circular economy they keep talking about.”
Grant Evans, Director of Fraser Evans & Son, said: “For those of us fighting our industry’s corner, this programme shows we don’t have time to await a Taskforce report, the challenges can immediately be overcome. As long as the Government continues to fiddle, tyres will burn. Ending the T8 exemption and the export of baled ELTs will stop this.”
Source: Tyretradenews
