Business · Energy & Commodities · 5 hrs ago
Australia recycles just 2% of its discarded mining tyres
Australian mines use some of the world's largest tyres to haul resources, but most old mining tyres are not recycled.
Mining companies can legally bury, stockpile or send more than 100,000 tonnes of these tyres to landfill each year.
Just 2% of mining tyres are recovered, compared with about 96% of passenger and commercial tyres.
The Australian Tyre Recyclers Association estimates that up to $200 million worth of natural rubber is buried on mine sites each year, as global supplies face pressure from weather and rising demand.
Governments and industry have invested in recycling facilities, but a plant in Port Hedland is processing only 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes a year against capacity of 30,000 tonnes.
Recyclers want tighter rules so more discarded tyres reach the facilities, while the mining sector says logistics challenges remain.
Australia recovers just 2 per cent of discarded off-the-road mining tyres, according to the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association.
Mining companies have been legally allowed for decades to bury, stockpile or send more than 100,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres to landfill each year.
The association estimates that up to $200 million worth of raw natural rubber is buried annually at mine sites.
A recycling plant in Port Hedland is processing 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of tyres a year, well below its 30,000-tonne capacity.
Recyclers say tighter rules are needed to get more tyres to existing processing facilities.
- Who
- Australian mining companies discard the tyres; the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association says only 2 per cent are recovered.
- What
- Australia recycles just 2 per cent of its discarded off-the-road mining tyres.
- When
- The article was published on October 29, 2026. The tyre disposal practice has been allowed for decades.
- Where
- At mining sites across Australia; a recycling facility discussed in the article is in Port Hedland, Western Australia.
- Why
- The article says mining companies can legally bury, stockpile or landfill the tyres. Recyclers say more material is needed to keep processing plants operating.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mining companies have been legally allowed to bury, stockpile or send more than 100,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres to landfill each year.
Tyrecycle's Port Hedland facility had opened for business.
ABC Australia reported that the facility was processing 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes of tyres a year, against a capacity of 30,000 tonnes.
- Recovery rate
- 2 per cent of off-the-road mining tyres
- Tyres discarded
- More than 100,000 tonnes per year
- Buried rubber value
- Up to $200 million annually
- Port Hedland plant capacity
- 30,000 tonnes per year
- Port Hedland plant processing
- 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes per year
- Funding
- Governments invested $20.7 million in six projects; industry contributed a further $62 million
What people are saying
These are very big mining tyres. They might be four, five, six tonnes,
It has been slow going, to be honest,
The government's undermining the tyre recycling industry by allowing the burial of tyres,