A federal parliamentary inquiry has called for sweeping reform of how Australia manages its used tyres, tabling a report in Parliament today that sets out 12 recommendations.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science released When the Rubber Hits the Road after an inquiry chaired by Rob Mitchell MP.
The recommendations include nationally harmonised rules for end-of-life tyres, a staged move away from on-site burial of mining tyres, dedicated support for regional and remote Australia, and stronger domestic markets for recycled tyre materials.
The Committee also asks the government to consider a transition to a mandatory national product stewardship scheme.
Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) welcomed the report, thanking the Committee for a comprehensive and constructive approach.
The Committee travelled across the country, visiting processing, recycling and research facilities and hearing from local councils, industry and communities.
Its findings build on existing evidence, including the Western Australian-led National End-of-Life Tyres Options project, and together the reports conclude that the status quo is no longer acceptable.
The first recommendation calls for a nationally harmonised framework, developed through the Environment Ministers’ Meeting.
The Committee also recommends an independent audit of the Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme, and that the operator of any future mandatory scheme be appointed through an open and competitive tender.
Any strengthened framework would require manufacturers, importers, retailers, recyclers and other stakeholders to share responsibility across the life of a tyre, creating a level playing field for brands that have contributed voluntarily to the current scheme for 12 years.
Local government features prominently in the inquiry, with one third of submissions coming from councils dealing with illegal tyre dumping.
TSA Chief Executive Officer Lina Goodman said the problem is felt keenly at the local level.
“Local councils are on the front line of managing end-of-life tyres in their communities, and many tell us they are losing the battle,” said Goodman.
Public support appears strong. Consumer research commissioned by TSA found 91 per cent of Australians back national rules for managing used tyres, and consumers are prepared to pay around $6 per tyre to ensure responsible disposal.
The report also addresses off-the-road tyres used in the mining and agricultural sectors.
The proposed framework includes a staged reduction in on-site burial over five years, interim recovery targets and public reporting.
TSA’s 2021 report, Tipping the Balance, was the first to quantify the scale of the challenge in Australia, and Goodman said progress has followed.
“Our latest figures show OTR recovery rates have more than doubled from 9 per cent to 21 per cent since 2021,” said Goodman.
The Committee backs retreading as a priority circular economy activity and recommends growing demand for recycled materials through crumb rubber in roads, government procurement, and closer collaboration between industry, universities and CSIRO to commercialise new recycling technologies.
The approach aligns with the government’s national Circular Economy Framework.
It also focuses on regional, rural and remote communities, where higher transport and storage costs make tyre recovery hardest.
TSA has called on the federal government and Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, to implement the recommendations within the current term of government.
Goodman stated that the TSA stands ready to work with the government, the states and the supply chain.