India's Tyre Industry
End-of-Life Tyres and Pyrolysis
How India handles waste tyres, including imported ones, the polluting pyrolysis plants that turn tyres into oil, and extended producer responsibility rules from 2022.
Old tyres become waste.
Uses
- Crumb rubber for roads and mats.
- Fuel in cement kilns.
- Pyrolysis: heating tyres to make oil and carbon black.
Pyrolysis problems
Many small pyrolysis plants are polluting; the NGT ordered action against unsafe units.
Imports
India imported waste tyres from abroad for pyrolysis, raising concerns.
EPR
In 2022, India introduced extended producer responsibility for tyres, making makers and importers responsible for recycling.
Economics
EPR makes producers bear disposal costs.
The pyrolysis plant
A small plant heats old tyres to produce fuel oil, but its smoke pollutes nearby villages.
Thinking tyre recycling is always clean
Some pyrolysis is polluting.
Key takeaways
- Old tyres become crumb, fuel or pyrolysis oil.
- Many pyrolysis plants pollute.
- India imported waste tyres.
- EPR for tyres began in 2022.
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