The mining industry has significant potential to make a major contribution to the circular economy through tyre recovery.
Off-the-road (OTR) tyres, including those used in mining, make up nearly a third of Australia’s tyre consumption by weight. Yet, only 13 per cent of OTR tyres were recovered last year. By contrast, the recovery rate for passenger, truck and bus (PTB) tyres sits around 87 per cent.
That is one of the key findings from Tyre Stewardship Australia’s (TSA)recent Material Flow report, ‘Are we there yet? Australia’s journey towards a circular economy on tyres serves to highlight the circular economy challenges and opportunities ahead for the mining industry.
The report found that more than 109,000 tonnes of mining tyres were buried on-site, a practice that remains widespread due to the presence of regulatory exemptions.
However, where mining tyres are recovered, they tend to deliver some of the most promising circular outcomes in the system, according to Lina Goodman, chief executive of TSA which published the report.
“We’ve seen mining tyres repurposed into engineered infrastructure products, including retaining walls, road bases and permeable pavements, that extend the lifespan of materials well beyond a single use,” Goodman told Mining.
“The mining industry has the engineering capability and procurement scale to do this at pace; what’s missing is the regulatory and infrastructure framework to support it.”
The system currently makes it easier to bury a tyre than recover it. Mining is exempt from landfill levies and does not face the same recovery requirements as other industries.
But Goodman said these barriers are fixable.
“We have called for consistent waste regulation, national product stewardship, and targeted investment in regional infrastructure,” she said. “Solutions such as mobile shredders, backloading via supply chains, and greater use of TSA accreditation are already within reach.”
TSA accreditation recognises recyclers, transporters and suppliers who meet strict environmental and safety standards for end-of-life tyre management.
For mining companies, using accredited suppliers means there is a verified chain of custody from site to processing facility, giving assurance that tyres are being recovered responsibly. Embedding accreditation into procurement contracts helps to set clear expectations, demonstrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership, and create a paper trail for regulatory or stakeholder reporting.
“We are seeing local recyclers, particularly in Western Australia, lead the way with circular solutions,” Goodman said.
“This is where most of the investment in advanced technology is happening, enabling OTR tyres to be transformed into high-value, end-use products.”
Despite the regulatory challenges, the ingenuity of the mining industry is evident when companies are taking up the recovery challenge.
“With support from our Market Development Fund, we’ve seen OTR tyres used in roads, rubberised concrete, retaining walls and permeable pavements, applications that align perfectly with the durability and scale of mining tyres,” Goodman said.
“These are engineered solutions that not only perform under pressure but also extend the life of materials beyond their first use. This is value retention at its best.”
Such examples, Goodman said, are evidence mining tyres that would once have ended life under the ground are now feeding directly back into Australia’s economy, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.
Goodman remains optimistic about the mining industry’s capacity to become a key player in the circular economy. She cited long-term contracts, centralised procurement, and an engineering mindset as industry strengths that can help fulfil the industry’s resource recovery potential.
“These attributes mean when the sector decides to shift, it can move with scale and consistency,” she said. “The challenge is that tyre recovery still sits outside most core procurement and waste strategies.”
Mindset shift
Alongside the need to align regulatory and infrastructure demands, Goodman believes a shift in mindset needed.
“We need to stop treating tyres as someone else’s problem,” she said. “They are part of the mine’s material lifecycle, just like ore, water or steel.
“By embedding recovery into contracts and operational systems, mining can turn this challenge into a leadership opportunity.”
Tyre recovery aligns strongly with the ESG priorities of Australian mining companies, particularly in reducing environmental liabilities, improving site closure practices, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to responsible resource use.
“Tyre recovery is emerging as a clear way for companies to demonstrate that social and environmental responsibility extends well beyond production,” Goodman said.
The OTR Hub at the upcoming International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is designed as a space to listen and understand the real operational, logistical and commercial barriers that companies face across sites and regions. TSA is curating a line-up of global technologies with the potential to transform how the sector handles end-of-life tyres.
From advanced pyrolysis and devulcanisation processes to modular recovery systems and on-site shredding solutions, the OTR Hub will display what’s possible when innovation meets mining-scale challenges.
“It’s about connecting mining companies with practical, tested recovery pathways that can be embedded into operations now, not years down the line,” Goodman said.
As momentum builds, TSA wants to help the industry find solutions that work at scale – commercially, logistically and environmentally.
“Ultimately, we want attendees to leave the OTR Hub with a clearer understanding of their role in the solution, and with concrete opportunities to participate in collaborative recovery efforts across the sector,” Goodman said.
This article appeared in the Spring edition of Mining Magazine.
