Australian tyre recycling regulations sit at the intersection of federal policy and state-level enforcement, and understanding both layers is essential for any business handling used tyres. The federal government sets the broad direction through the National Waste Policy and the Product Stewardship Act 2011, but the practical regulation of tyre waste collection, storage, processing, and disposal is primarily a state and territory matter. Each jurisdiction runs its own environmental protection legislation, licensing requirements, and enforcement approach.
This means compliance in New South Wales does not automatically mean compliance in Queensland. A tyre recycling operation fully permitted in Victoria needs a separate assessment for any work conducted in Western Australia. Australian tyre recycling regulations vary not just between states but across the full processing chain, from collection and transport through to end-use application. A mining operation in the Pilbara, a tyre retailer in suburban Melbourne, and a civil engineering contractor in regional Queensland each operate under different frameworks with different agencies overseeing them.
This guide maps that regulatory landscape across Australian states and territories, covering the key requirements at each level of the processing chain and what they mean in practice for tyre generators, collectors, and processors.
Gradeall International supplies tyre processing equipment to Australian operations from its manufacturing base in Dungannon, Northern Ireland. The MKII tyre baler, truck tyre sidewall cutter, OTR tyre sidewall cutter, and the full tyre recycling equipment range serve Australian tyre processors and generators. With nearly 40 years of manufacturing experience and equipment operating in over 100 countries, Gradeall has supported the development of tyre recycling infrastructure in Australia alongside the Tyre Stewardship Australia scheme.
The federal foundation for Australian tyre recycling policy is the Product Stewardship Act 2011, which provides the framework for both voluntary and co-regulatory product stewardship schemes. Under this Act, the Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) scheme serves as the primary mechanism for funding national-level tyre collection and recycling infrastructure.
The Product Stewardship (Tyres) Regulations 2020 established the co-regulatory framework for tyres, requiring tyre manufacturers and importers to be accredited with an approved product stewardship arrangement. TSA operates as this approved arrangement; accreditation-holders pay levies into the TSA fund that finances collection and recycling activities across Australia.
This federal framework sets the direction and provides funding, but enforcement of day-to-day tyre waste management compliance remains with state and territory environment protection authorities (EPAs). The National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 sets targets for waste diversion and resource recovery that inform but do not directly mandate state regulatory approaches.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regulates waste management in New South Wales under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). Used tyres are classified as regulated waste under Schedule 1 of the POEO Act.
Waste tracking. NSW operates a comprehensive waste tracking system. Transporters of regulated waste, including used tyres, must hold a current EPA waste transport licence. Consignment authorisation is required for movements of trackable quantities of regulated waste. Waste tracking records must be maintained and are subject to an EPA audit.
Premises licensing. Facilities that receive, store, process, or dispose of waste tyres above prescribed quantities require an EPA environmental protection licence. The licensing threshold depends on the activity type and scale; smaller tyre collection operations may qualify for exemptions, while processing facilities above the relevant thresholds need full licences with conditions covering storage, processing, emissions, and reporting.
Illegal dumping enforcement. NSW EPA takes a robust approach to illegal tyre dumping enforcement, investigating fly-tipping networks and prosecuting both dumpers and generators who fail their duty of care obligations. Penalties under the POEO Act include substantial fines and in serious cases, custodial sentences.
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA Victoria) administers waste regulation under the Environment Protection Act 2017. Victoria introduced a significantly reformed EPA framework in 2021 that strengthened the general environmental duty obligation, which now applies to all persons conducting activities with potential environmental risk, including tyre storage and processing.
General environmental duty. Under the reformed Act, businesses managing used tyres must understand the risks their activities create and take reasonably practicable steps to minimise those risks. This general duty applies regardless of whether a specific licence or permit is required; it creates an ongoing obligation to assess and manage environmental risk rather than simply comply with prescriptive conditions.
Works approvals and licences. Tyre processing facilities above the prescribed threshold require a works approval before construction and an EPA licence for ongoing operation. The licence conditions cover acceptable tyre volumes, storage requirements (fire separation distances, maximum stockpile sizes), processing methods, emissions management, and reporting.
Fire risk management. Victoria has experienced several significant industrial site fires, including at tyre and waste storage facilities. EPA Victoria’s regulatory approach to tyre storage reflects this history, with specific storage requirements in licensing conditions and active monitoring of compliance with fire management requirements.
The Department of Environment and Science (DES) and its successor entities regulate waste management in Queensland under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Waste tyre operations are regulated as a resource activity or as an environmentally relevant activity (ERA) under the Environmental Protection Regulation.
ERA framework. Tyre recycling and processing activities that meet the ERA definition thresholds require an environmental authority (EA) from DES. The EA specifies conditions, including maximum waste volumes, storage requirements, emissions limits, and monitoring obligations. Operations below the ERA threshold may be subject to a code of environmental compliance rather than a full EA.
Tyre hoarding. Queensland has experienced significant problems with illegal tyre stockpiling, including large accumulations at abandoned properties that created fire and environmental risk. DES and local governments have worked to address legacy stockpile issues while strengthening enforcement against new accumulations.
Transport. Waste transporters in Queensland require a current licence. Manifests are required for regulated waste movements above specified quantities.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) administers waste management in Western Australia under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007. Western Australia’s vast geography creates specific challenges for tyre waste management; OTR tyres from the mining and resources sector in remote areas of the state generate volumes and present disposal challenges without parallel in other Australian states.
Prescribed premises. Waste tyre processing facilities above threshold volumes are prescribed premises under WA regulations, requiring registration or licensing from DWER. The specific thresholds for tyre storage and processing that trigger the prescribed premises classification are set out in the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987.
Mining sector focus. Given the scale of WA’s mining sector and the significant OTR tyre volumes generated at remote mining operations, DWER and industry have worked on guidance for on-site OTR tyre management at mine sites. On-site processing with equipment such as Gradeall’s OTR tyre sidewall cutter and OTR tyre splitter addresses the volume reduction requirement before collection and processing can be arranged.
South Australia’s Environment Protection Authority (SA EPA) operates under the Environment Protection Act 1993. SA has a strong track record on product stewardship and was an early adopter of extended producer responsibility approaches in Australia. SA EPA’s waste licensing requirements apply to tyre processing facilities above the prescribed thresholds.
Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA Tasmania) regulates waste under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994. The smaller scale of Tasmania’s economy means fewer large tyre processing operations, with tyre waste management often relying on collection to mainland processors.
The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) administers waste regulation under the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act 1998. The NT’s remote geography and significant mining presence create specific challenges; the NT EPA works with industry to develop practical solutions for remote-area waste tyre management.
The ACT Environment Protection Authority (ACT EPA) administers waste regulation in the Australian Capital Territory, primarily focused on urban waste management and procurement policy sustainability requirements for government procurement.
Despite the variation in specific regulatory frameworks, several common requirements apply across all Australian states and territories:
Duty of care. Every state imposes a duty of care on tyre waste generators, transporters, and receivers. The duty requires waste to be handled by authorised parties, transferred with appropriate documentation, and disposed of through legal routes.
Carrier licensing. Transport of waste tyres in quantities above small amounts requires a current waste transport licence in every jurisdiction. Verification of the carrier licence status before engaging any tyre collection service is a universal obligation.
Storage management. All jurisdictions impose requirements on tyre storage, including maximum volumes, fire separation, and access for emergency services. Compliance with storage requirements reduces both regulatory and insurance risk.
No landfill. Australia does not have a blanket national landfill ban on tyres like the one in the UK, but individual states have moved toward restricting tyre disposal in landfills. Several states prohibit or restrict the landfilling of whole tyres, requiring them to be shredded or processed before disposal. The TSA scheme’s push for resource recovery rather than disposal has effectively reduced tyre landfilling in practice.
“Australian tyre recycling regulation has become significantly more structured over the past decade, driven by the TSA scheme and by state EPA enforcement initiatives,” says Conor Murphy, Director of Gradeall International. “The businesses that manage their tyre waste most effectively are those that understand their specific state obligations and invest in processing equipment that keeps them inside the regulatory framework rather than relying on collection arrangements they can’t verify.”
Contact Gradeall International for tyre processing equipment for Australian operations and for guidance on how equipment investment supports regulatory compliance across Australian jurisdictions.
Licensing requirements for tyre storage vary by state and by the quantity stored. Small quantities at retail premises are typically covered by standard business premises approvals. Above threshold quantities (which vary by state) require specific environmental authority or licence. Check with your state EPA for the specific thresholds and requirements applicable to your premises.
Documentation requirements vary by state but generally include waste transport records or consignment notes for regulated waste movements. The TSA scheme also requires accredited parties to maintain records of tyre volumes for scheme reporting. Check requirements with your state EPA and confirm TSA reporting obligations with Tyre Stewardship Australia.
Australia does not have a national standard equivalent to the UK’s PAS 108 for tyre bales in civil engineering. The use of tyre bales in civil engineering applications in Australia is guided by engineering judgement, project-specific specifications, and reference to international standards including PAS 108.
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