Scrap Tyre Dumping Returns

Scrap Tyre Dumping Returns – A Growing Problem in the UK Tyre Industry

Over the years at Pellon Tyre and Autocentre, I’ve seen many changes in the tyre trade. One issue that never really seems to go away is scrap tyre dumping.

Despite tighter regulations and better recycling systems, it’s a problem that continues to resurface — and it affects both the environment and responsible tyre businesses.

♻️ What Happens to Old Tyres? Scrap Tyre Dumping Returns

In the trade, we refer to old tyres as “casings”.

When tyres are removed from customers’ vehicles, they don’t just disappear. Years ago, many of these casings were reused in the production of remoulded tyres. This was a popular and cost-effective solution at the time.

However, things have changed significantly.

🚗 Why Remoulding Declined

Modern motoring has brought with it:

A wide range of tyre sizes
More advanced tyre designs
Increased safety expectations

At the same time, the market saw a rise in low-cost imported tyres, particularly from overseas.

This meant:
👉 Remoulded tyres often cost as much as, or even more than, brand-new tyres

So naturally, demand for remoulds declined.

🔧 The Problem for Tyre Dealers: Scrap Tyre Dumping Returns

With fewer options for reuse, tyre dealers like ourselves were left with a growing issue:

👉 What do we do with all the old tyres?

To address this, recycling companies stepped in. These businesses use specialised machinery to:

Break down tyres
Separate rubber from steel
Recycle materials for reuse

Recycled tyre rubber is now commonly used in:

Road surfaces (tarmac)
Playgrounds
Industrial products

⚠️ The Cost of Disposal

While recycling is the right approach, it comes at a cost.

As a tyre retailer in Halifax, we are required to:

Pay a disposal fee for every casing
Keep proper records
Use licensed waste carriers

Typically, this costs at least £1 per tyre, sometimes more.

Everything is regulated to ensure tyres are handled responsibly.

🚨 Where the Problems Begin: Scrap Tyre Dumping Returns

Unfortunately, wherever there is money involved, there is always the risk of abuse.

Over the years, we’ve seen cases where

Criminals pose as legitimate waste carriers
Documentation is forged
Tyres are collected but not properly disposed of

In some cases, dealers have unknowingly handed over large quantities of tyres to the wrong people.

🏴 Real Incidents Closer to Home

There have been well-known cases in the UK, including in areas not far from West Yorkshire, where individuals rented land and illegally stockpiled thousands — even millions — of tyres.

These piles can become:

Environmental hazards
Fire risks
Eyesores for local communities

In one case, tyres were simply stacked on a disused airfield runway, with paperwork falsified to make everything appear legitimate.

Eventually, the person responsible was caught and prosecuted, but the damage had already been done.

🌍 Why It Still Happens Today: Scrap Tyre Dumping Returns

Even with tighter regulations, illegal tyre dumping hasn’t disappeared.

Reasons include:

Disposal costs
Weak points in enforcement
The sheer volume of tyres being replaced every day

Recent discoveries across the UK, including in Scotland, show that the issue is still very much alive.

👍 Responsible Tyre Disposal Matters

At Pellon Tyre and Autocentre, we take this responsibility seriously.

We ensure that:

All tyres are passed to licensed carriers
Documentation is correct
Waste is handled in line with regulations

It’s part of doing the job properly and protecting both our customers and the local environment.

💻 Book Tyres with Confidence

When you have tyres replaced, you want to know everything is handled correctly — including disposal.

You can book your tyres online with confidence here:
👉 https://www.pellontyres.co.uk/

We’ll take care of everything, from fitting to responsible recycling.

🧠 Final Thoughts

After more than 45 years in the trade, I’ve learned that while technology and products change, some challenges remain.

Scrap tyre disposal is one of them.

It’s something most drivers never think about — but behind the scenes, it’s a vital part of keeping the industry safe, legal, and environmentally responsible.

Now onto 2024 Pellon Tyres are now members of Tyresafe.org

Around 10,000 tyres dumped at a disused farmyard barn in Port Glasgow have been abandoned by a criminal network, an investigation has found. The tyres were dumped at a derelict farm with one barn overflowing with

Source: Criminal gang dumps 10,000 tyres in Port Glasgow

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