TYRE groups from Australia and New Zealand have backed the formation of a recycling alliance to lift industry standards on end-of-life tyres.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) and Tyrewise New Zealand (Tyrewise) have formed the Trans-Tasman Tyre Recycling Alliance (TTRA), an independent regional body dedicated to advancing circular economy outcomes for end-of-life tyres across Australia and New Zealand. 

Jointly funded by TSA and Tyrewise, the alliance maintain their separate national schemes while fostering regional collaboration, drive innovation, facilitate knowledge exchange, and elevate industry standards initially across the Tasman region.

The alliance said it also plans to expand engagement to Australian and NZ Pacific neighbours in the near future. 

Image Source: TSA

The announcement follows the successful inaugural round trip summit held in Melbourne  recently, which brought together over 200 industry leaders, manufacturers, recyclers,  researchers, policymakers and technology providers from around the globe. 

It also follows calls by the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce for a government mandate for end-of-life tyres to fight illegal dumping and drive investment in recycling.

The VACC last month said it will advocate for a mandatory, co-regulated stewardship scheme that would establish clear responsibility across the tyre lifecycle – from manufacturers and importers through to retailers and consumers. 

It said the proposed scheme would create a more level playing field and ensure all industry participants meet their environmental obligations.

Recycled tyre material used in new products

The VACC was responding to the inquiry by the House of Representatives’ standing committee on industry, innovation and science into the Australian tyre industry and its role in the circular economy.

However, VACC wants to take this federal inquiry further. It is calling on the government to move beyond investigation and mandate a mandatory product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres, similar to the successful model already in operation in NZ.

The CEO of the VACC Peter Jones told GoAutoNews Premium: “The tyre industry has enormous potential to contribute to a circular economy and create valuable jobs in recycling and resource recovery. But we need government leadership and a mandated stewardship scheme to make this a reality.”

Peter Jones

The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) has called for industry participation in the tyre recycling issue. 

Its Queensland member Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTAQ) said legitimate automotive businesses “were being hit with soaring waste disposal costs and long collection delays.”

MTA Queensland CEO Rod Camm is calling for decisive federal action, including:

• Mandatory product stewardship for end-of-life tyres and vehicles
• Tougher penalties for illegal dumping and stockpiling
• Investment in recycling and reprocessing infrastructure
• Support for regional recycling capacity

“Queensland’s automotive industry is committed to sustainability, but rogue operators and fragmented policy responses are undermining legitimate businesses and damaging our environment,” Mr Camm said.

MTA Queensland CEO Rod Camm

With tyre disposal costs doubling since 2021 and limited domestic processing capacity, a co-regulated national scheme is essential to build a circular economy, create jobs and level the playing field.

The federal inquiry will consider reuse, retreading, recycling innovation and the full lifecycle of tyres. Submissions close 26 January 26, 2026.

The new Trans-Tasman Tyre Recycling Alliance (TTRA) said the two countries collectively generate more than 600,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually. 

“While both countries face challenges around technology adoption, market development, and regulatory frameworks, they operate in different market dynamics and scale,” the TTRA said in a statement.

“New Zealand has limited end markets for tyre-derived materials and is looking to learn  from Australia’s more established downstream applications, while Australia can draw insights from New Zealand’s experience with implementing a regulated mandatory scheme.”

Tyre Stewardship Australia CEO Lina Goodman said the partnership was of strategic importance.

“We must work together across borders to unlock the full potential of circular tyre recovery and build resilience against global market disruptions,” she said.

“Through TTRA, we can get ahead of risks, capitalise on opportunities, and accelerate the development of  local markets for tyre-derived materials.”

Tyre Stewardship Australia CEO Lina Goodman

The CEO of 3R Group which manages NZ’s Tyrewise scheme, Adele Rose, noted:  “Tyrewise has demonstrated how quickly a regulated system can deliver high collection rates  and meaningful recovery outcomes.“Through TTRA, we can not only share our learnings but  can also be the incubator for new technology that demonstrates how a regulated well supported scheme can foster greater circular outcomes.

“In addition, this assists us to support our close Pacific neighbours who receive new and used tyres from our respective countries, often without the resources to manage those tyres when they become end of life.” 

CEO of 3R Group which manages NZ’s Tyrewise scheme, Adele Rose

The TTRA said that TSA’s material flow analysis showed Australia is only recycling 30,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres “losing over $50 million annually in resource value from off-the-road (OTR) tyres alone.”

“Meanwhile, 40 per cent of end-of-life tyres in Australia and the vast majority in NZ are used for energy recovery rather than being recovered as valuable materials domestically,” it said. 

The new alliance said it will prioritise initiatives that involve higher-order material applications, including crumb rubber in roads, advanced manufacturing, and innovative product  development. 

The alliance will formally commence operations in early 2026 with governance structures  and strategic priorities to be finalised in the coming months. 

TSA, which has operated a voluntary product stewardship scheme for 11 years, and  Tyrewise, NZ’s first regulated product stewardship scheme which began operating in September 2024, will both maintain their independent operations while contributing  resources and expertise to the new regional body.

The managing director of Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand, Heath Barclay, said in a statement that the formation of the Trans-Tasman Recycling Alliance “is an obvious and logical step forward in what is a common issue in both markets”.

“We’re thrilled to see the Trans-Tasman Tyre Recycling Alliance established.

“While both markets are different in many ways, end-of-life tyres are an issue in both countries and there are some key learnings that can be taken from both parties. I’m excited to see what can be achieved through this formalised collaborative approach as we continue to advocate for further action in Australia,” Mr Barclay said.

“The Trans-Tasman Recycling Alliance is an opportunity to advance tyre stewardship outcomes in Australia, including the consideration of a regulated approach, informed by the learnings of the Tyrewise scheme in New Zealand.”