Environment Agency to review its approach to waste tyre exports
Following the release of the BBC’s File on 4 ‘Tyre Scandal’ and legal campaign from Fighting Dirty, the government body will take three months to investigate UK tyre shipments to India.
The Environment Agency (EA) has committed to undertake a review of its approach to waste tyre shipments to India, following the threat of legal action by campaign group Fighting Dirty. The decision comes after months of correspondence between the legal campaign organisation and the agency regarding the export of millions of waste tyres from the UK.
In response to a pre-action protocol issued by lawyers at Leigh Day on behalf of Fighting Dirty, the EA stated it will conduct an interval review of its approach to waste tyre shipments. The agency plans to consult with industry stakeholders, domestic and foreign trade associations, the Indian government, and other public authorities.
The EA has invited Fighting Dirty to present its concerns at a meeting and announced it is "taking steps to arrange a delegation to meet with officials in Autumn 2025." The review is expected to take approximately three months to complete, with a provisional completion date of 30 June 2025.
Georgia Elliott-Smith, Director at Fighting Dirty, said: "We are delighted at the EA's proposal to engage proactively, and we wait with cautious optimism to find out more about the scope of their review. The government must stop turning a blind eye to the illegal and immoral activity of UK waste exporters. Fighting Dirty will continue applying pressure, leaving the door open to future legal action if the EA's actions do not adequately solve the problems.
The investigation into tyre waste exports
Fighting Dirty has been investigating the issue since 2023, working to uncover the extent of the EA's knowledge regarding the approximately 55 million waste tyres exported from the UK to India.
A recent BBC File on 4 investigation revealed that most of these tyres end up in illegal pyrolysis plants, causing significant environmental and health damages. The investigation, with contribution from Elliott-Smith, has led to calls for changes to the EA’s stance on end-of-life tyre exports, including bans to the T8 exemption.
Under the current regulatory framework, tyres are classified as 'green list' waste, allowing them to be freely shipped to countries like India without proper checks or oversight. This classification has been a key point of contention for environmental campaigners.
In its letter, the EA acknowledged awareness of the BBC investigation "which is to focus on UK waste tyres destined for India," stating that "any information provided as a result of the BBC investigation will be carefully considered by the Agency as part of its ongoing work in relation to this matter."
Fellow Director at Fighting Dirty, Steve Hyndside, commented: "Taking regulators to court is always the last option for Fighting Dirty. We're delighted that the Environment Agency has offered to review the legal framework around the exporting of car tyres and are willing to meet to hear our concerns about the current system. We're entering these next steps in good faith, and look forward to working with the EA in shutting down this polluting process."
Fighting Dirty Director and journalist, George Monbiot, added: "I first wrote about this issue six years ago. Finally, after threatening legal action, the agency has stepped up to do the right thing, conducting a review that should bring an end to the horrendously polluting trade in UK waste tyres."
The EA has requested that Fighting Dirty refrain from issuing judicial review proceedings while the review is in progress, proposing that if Fighting Dirty remains dissatisfied following the internal review, it will respond substantively to their pre-action protocol letter within a reasonable timeframe.
Julia Eriksen, Solicitor at Leigh Day representing Fighting Dirty, described the EA's commitment as "a major victory for our client and for all those who have been working tirelessly to bring this issue to the attention of the UK and Indian authorities for several years." She added that her client "will continue engaging with the EA to ensure the review proceeds on a proper and timely basis."
