Defra to Scrap Tyre Treatment Exemption T8 in 3-Month Overhaul

England and Wales will require full permits for mechanical tyre treatment as Exemption T8 is withdrawn within three months.

Why this matters

The UK government is tightening controls on waste-tyre processing. All firms that shred, bale or granulate tyres under the T8 exemption must now seek an environmental permit—or stop work—within three months of new regulations taking effect.

What Exemption T8 Allowed

Exemption T8 let smaller operators process up to:
▪ 60 tonnes of truck tyres or
▪ 40 tonnes of other tyres in any seven-day period

Processes included baling, shredding, peeling, shaving and granulating for recovery.

Why Government Is Axing T8

▪ Fire risk: Major blazes, such as the 600,000-tyre inferno in Bradford (2020), show the danger of unchecked stockpiles.
▪ Environmental crime: Rogue operators used the exemption to avoid regulation and undercut compliant recyclers.
▪ Policy goal: Defra and the Welsh Government want stronger oversight and a “level playing field” across the sector.

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*Three months from the day the regulations enter force.

Who Must Act

Affected

• Tyre recyclers and processors using balers, shredders or granulators under T8.

Unaffected

• Tyre fitters, garages and roadside services that only store casings before collection (covered by separate storage exemptions).

Steps for Operators

1. Review the policy paper and confirm whether your activities fall under T8.
2. Submit an environmental permit application within the three-month window if you wish to continue processing.
3. Cease mechanical treatment if a permit is not secured in time.

Expected Industry Impact

• Stronger environmental safeguards through audited permits and EA inspections.
• Reduced illegal stockpiling and fewer waste-tyre fires.
• Fairer competition for compliant recyclers as criminal operators lose a loophole.

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The three-month transition period for the removal of Exemption T8 begins from the date the regulations come into force, not from the date of policy announcement or publication. As of now (18 July 2025), there is no evidence that the T8 exemption has already been legally removed or that the three-month period has begun.

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Tagged with: waste tyres, T8 exemption, mechanical tyre treatment, Defra, environmental permit, tyre recycling, waste management regulations, England and Wales

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