Inquiry Calls for End to Australian Tyre Burial

A new parliamentary report recommends phasing out the on-site burial of end-of-life tyres at mining locations within five years.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Auto Parts

Isometric editorial illustration of a single massive mining tyre on arid earth, representing industrial waste management policy in Australia. — A new parliamentary inquiry report recommends ending the practice of burying massive mining tyres at Australian sites within five years. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A 165-page parliamentary inquiry report titled When the Rubber Hits the Road proposes a staged reduction of tyre burial at mining sites over the next five years. The findings follow 10 months of research into the Australian tyre industry.

Why it matters

The report highlights that end-of-life tyres contain significant valuable materials that could be recovered for economic use instead of being discarded. Currently, more than 100,000 tonnes of tyres are buried at mining sites annually.

Australia produces 67 million end-of-life tyres annually, weighing 537,000 tonnes, with more than 500,000 tonnes currently stockpiled. While recovery rates for passenger and truck tyres reach 87 per cent, off-road tyre recovery remains at 13 per cent.

The players

Australian Parliament

The national legislative body of Australia that conducted the ten-month research inquiry into the tyre industry.

The details

The inquiry conducted eight public hearings to assess the manufacturing, importation, and recycling processes within the tyre sector. Individual off-road tyres can exceed five tonnes, posing significant disposal challenges that the inquiry aims to address through its recommendations.

2023/24: Annual end-of-life tyre figures were recorded.
15 October 2026: The inquiry report was released.
Next five years: The recommended timeframe for phasing out on-site tyre burial.

Roadmap

This inquiry signals a transition towards stricter federal oversight of industrial waste management within the Australian automotive and mining sectors. It positions the industry to move away from legacy disposal practices in favour of integrated circular economy models for high-tonnage materials.

The proposed shift away from on-site burial could lead to increased demand for commercial recycling services and impact logistics costs for mining operations. Drivers and businesses may see changes in how the tyre life cycle is managed as new disposal standards are formalised.

The takeaway

The inquiry underscores the environmental and economic potential of repurposing millions of tonnes of waste generated by the automotive sector annually. Proper management of these materials represents a significant opportunity to improve resource recovery across the country.