Australia's Mining Sector Buries Thousands of Tonnes of Tyres Amid Global Rubber Shortfall

According to a report cited by the Australian Tyre Recyclers Association (ATRA), major miners in Australia bury more than 100,000 tonnes of used off-the-road (OTR) tyres annually, representing up to $200 million in raw natural rubber. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on October 30, 2026, that advocates are calling for stricter regulations on mining tyre disposal as global rubber production faces challenges.

Scale of OTR Tyre Burial and Economic Value

ATRA reported that only about two per cent of OTR mining tyres are recovered, contrasting with passenger and commercial tyres, which achieve a 96 per cent collection rate. Weighing between four and six tonnes each, these giant tyres are legally permitted to be buried, stockpiled, or sent to landfill by the mining industry. ATRA executive officer Robert Kelman stated that the buried rubber could be worth up to $200 million annually, a figure expected to rise as global rubber production lags behind demand.

Global Rubber Shortfall and Market Factors

• The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries forecasts a natural rubber shortage of 317,000 tonnes in 2026 due to erratic weather in south-east Asian plantations.
• University of Melbourne rubber expert Miles Kenney-Lazar noted that environmental factors such as flooding and climate change are impacting plantations.
• Demand for rubber continues to grow, driven partly by electric vehicles, which are heavier and wear through rubber faster.

Infrastructure Capacity and Industry Challenges

Governments and industry have invested in recycling infrastructure, including a facility built by Tyrecycle in Western Australia's Pilbara region, which accounts for 49 per cent of the nation's mining tyres. However, company spokesperson Ashley Battilana reported that 18 months after opening in Port Hedland, the plant processes only 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes annually against a 30,000-tonne capacity, citing allowed on-site burial as a deterrent to recycling costs.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA policy and advocacy director Anita Logiudice cited logistical challenges in transporting OTR tyres from remote mines and a small local market for crumb rubber as barriers. A federal parliamentary inquiry previously recommended a staged reduction of on-site burial over five years, with a spokesperson for Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres stating that the government is still considering its response.