Safer Roads Start with Smarter Tyre Disposal

Why Responsible Tyre Disposal Is a Road Safety Imperative

When we think of road safety, the first images that come to mind are often seat belts, traffic lights, and speed limits. However, one of the lesser-known contributors to unsafe road conditions is improper tyre disposal. Abandoned or mismanaged end-of-life tyres (ELTs) create a range of hazards that can compromise the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. In India, where millions of tyres reach the end of their usable life each year, the urgency to manage them responsibly is not just an environmental concern—it’s a public safety priority.

Tyres that are dumped in unauthorized areas or stored in open spaces often end up obstructing roadways, drainage systems, and pedestrian walkways. These discarded tyres may seem harmless at first glance, but they can roll onto roads, become lodged in traffic lanes, or collect rainwater and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Worse, when they catch fire—whether due to arson or accident—they emit thick black smoke that reduces visibility and contributes to dangerous driving conditions nearby. This is particularly problematic near highways, flyovers, and narrow roads, where quick reaction times are critical to avoid accidents.

India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime for tyres, introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and regulated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), aims to change this reality. Under these rules, manufacturers, importers, and brand owners are accountable for collecting and processing a set percentage of the tyres they place on the market. The goal is to ensure that tyres are no longer abandoned or mishandled but instead enter a managed cycle of reuse, recycling, or energy recovery.

Proper tyre disposal through EPR compliance not only improves environmental outcomes but also contributes directly to safer roads by eliminating the physical and chemical risks posed by unmanaged tyre waste. This makes EPR a powerful tool not just for waste management professionals, but for urban planners, transport departments, and road safety advocates alike.

• Abandoned tyres can obstruct roads and lead to accidents, especially at night or during rain.
• Burning tyres release smoke that reduces visibility and causes respiratory hazards near roadways.
• Poorly managed tyre waste can attract pests and degrade urban and rural environments alike.

In short, addressing tyre waste through structured EPR systems isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes—it’s about building safer, cleaner, and more resilient transportation infrastructure. By recognizing the connection between tyre disposal and road safety, we can take meaningful steps to protect both the environment and the people who travel across it every day.

Every year, countless used tyres pile up across India’s cities and highways—many of them improperly disposed of or abandoned. While the environmental consequences are well known, the link between tyre waste and road safety is less talked about. Tyre Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are reshaping how we manage end-of-life tyres, offering a pathway not only to sustainability but also to safer roads. This blog explores how responsible tyre disposal, driven by EPR, can prevent accidents and promote a safer mobility ecosystem.

The Hidden Hazards of Abandoned and Illegal Tyre Dumping

Abandoned and illegally dumped tyres are more than a waste management issue—they represent a significant and often overlooked public safety concern. Across many Indian cities and highways, end-of-life tyres are frequently discarded in open fields, along roadside verges, or dumped in water bodies. These neglected piles of rubber create a range of direct and indirect hazards that impact road users, municipal services, and even public health.

One of the most immediate dangers stems from the physical obstruction tyres pose when dumped near or on roadways. Especially in low-visibility areas—such as sharp bends, dimly lit roads, or during the monsoon—stacked or stray tyres can block traffic lanes, cause vehicles to swerve unexpectedly, or contribute to multi-vehicle collisions. In rural and peri-urban zones, where municipal waste collection is inconsistent, these hazards often go unaddressed for extended periods.

Beyond the road itself, tyres left in open spaces also create dangerous conditions off the pavement. Their hollow, water-retaining shape makes them ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, contributing to outbreaks of malaria and dengue. In addition, when amassed in large numbers, they pose serious fire risks. Tyres are made of combustible materials like synthetic rubber and carbon black. When ignited—whether accidentally or through deliberate burning—they release thick plumes of toxic smoke that reduce visibility for motorists and emergency responders while polluting the local environment.

Illegal tyre dumping is also tied to broader patterns of informal and unregulated waste management. In the absence of oversight, many tyres are burned to extract steel components, often in open-air settings. These fires not only endanger nearby communities but often occur dangerously close to major roadways, where drifting smoke has caused severe traffic disruptions and even accidents. The environmental and safety fallout from these practices is significant, especially when enforcement is weak or non-existent.

• Obstructive tyres on roads create collision risks, especially at night or in low-visibility weather.
• Stored tyres collect stagnant water and contribute to mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.
• Burning tyres release toxic fumes and reduce visibility, endangering drivers and first responders.

These dangers make a compelling case for the urgent implementation of responsible disposal frameworks under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system. By ensuring that end-of-life tyres are collected, tracked, and treated within formal channels, we can not only mitigate environmental harm but also significantly improve public safety outcomes. As urbanization increases and vehicle ownership rises, the pressure on waste infrastructure grows. Addressing these hazards now is essential to preventing larger, systemic safety failures in the future.

Improperly discarded tyres are more than just an eyesore—they can create serious safety hazards on and off the road. From causing physical obstructions to becoming breeding grounds for fires and disease, these waste tyres pose risks to pedestrians, motorists, and emergency response systems alike. Understanding these threats highlights why proper tyre collection and recycling under EPR is not just environmentally prudent, but a matter of public safety.

Tyres on the Roadside: An Accident Waiting to Happen

Tyres discarded along roadsides are more than an environmental eyesore—they present a tangible risk to road users. Whether casually tossed from transport vehicles or left behind in illegal dumpsites, these end-of-life tyres often end up near road shoulders, dividers, or intersections. Over time, weather, gravity, or human interference can shift these tyres onto the roadway itself, creating unpredictable hazards for motorists and two-wheeler riders alike.

In high-speed zones such as highways or bypasses, the presence of an unanticipated object—even something as seemingly innocuous as a tyre—can lead to panic braking or sudden swerves, especially at night or in rainy conditions when visibility is already reduced. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable, as even a minor collision with a roadside object can result in severe injuries or fatalities. The danger intensifies in poorly lit or unmonitored areas, where tyres may blend into the background and go unnoticed until it’s too late to react safely.

In many parts of India, under-resourced municipal bodies lack the capacity for regular roadside waste clearance, meaning that these hazards can persist for weeks or even months. Proactive removal rarely happens unless a serious incident prompts official attention. This makes preventive strategies—like strengthening EPR collection systems and deploying dedicated pickup units for ELTs—essential to keeping roads safe and navigable for all.

Discarded tyres often end up along highways or in open plots near roadways, creating obstacles that reduce visibility or encroach on driving lanes. Especially at night or in poor weather conditions, such obstructions can lead to severe traffic accidents. In rural areas where street lighting is scarce, these dangers multiply. Municipalities often lack the resources for timely clearance, making long-term solutions like EPR-backed tyre collection all the more essential.

Illegal Burning and Storage: A Threat to Visibility and Safety

In many unregulated scrapyards or vacant lots, tyres are stored in bulk or even set on fire to recover metal. These fires release dense, toxic smoke that can obscure visibility on nearby roads and highways. There have been instances where such burning has caused pileups on expressways due to poor air quality and impaired driver judgment. With EPR frameworks promoting certified collection and environmentally sound recycling, such unsafe practices can be systematically phased out.

How Tyre EPR Policies Contribute to Safer Mobility Networks

India’s Tyre Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy is not only an environmental milestone but also a pivotal move toward improving road safety across the country. Introduced under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the tyre EPR framework holds producers accountable for the lifecycle of their products—even after those products reach end-of-life. This responsibility helps ensure that used tyres do not end up as public hazards.

The EPR regime mandates that tyre manufacturers, importers, and brand owners recover and process a specific proportion of the tyres they place into the market. This shift from a linear to a circular approach minimizes the chance that tyres are discarded improperly or left to accumulate in areas where they can disrupt mobility or endanger lives. By creating structured pathways for the collection, transport, and recycling of end-of-life tyres (ELTs), the EPR system is gradually reducing the presence of loose or dumped tyres in public areas.

This transition toward a regulated, closed-loop system has direct implications for road safety. Tyres no longer linger along highways or in urban pockets where they pose risks to vehicles and pedestrians. Instead, they are collected through formal channels—often via Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs)—and sent to approved recycling units or for energy recovery. With each tyre accounted for, the likelihood of illegal dumping and unsafe storage diminishes.

Additionally, the EPR system creates transparency through digital tracking tools like the CPCB’s EPR portal. Producers must register and report their collection and processing outcomes, which allows regulators to monitor compliance and intervene when necessary. This traceability not only enforces accountability but also supports strategic planning for safer waste logistics in urban and semi-urban areas.

• Tyres are diverted from informal dumping to certified recyclers, reducing on-road hazards.
• Reverse logistics systems ensure safer collection, transport, and storage of tyre waste.
• Digital traceability improves oversight and reduces the risk of illegal burning or abandonment.

As India’s road network continues to expand and vehicle ownership grows, the volume of tyre waste will rise accordingly. Implementing tyre EPR effectively offers a scalable solution—one that supports cleaner surroundings, lowers accident risks, and lays the foundation for a more sustainable and safe transport ecosystem. By viewing tyre recovery not just through the lens of waste, but also of mobility safety, the policy becomes a powerful tool for systemic improvement.

India’s Tyre EPR regime, implemented under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Rules by the CPCB, mandates producers to ensure their products are collected and recycled at end-of-life. This system creates accountability across the value chain—minimizing illegal dumping and ensuring tyres are redirected into organized recycling streams. Safer disposal also means fewer chances of accidents caused by stray or mismanaged tyres, indirectly supporting road safety outcomes.

Designated Collection and Transport: Keeping Tyres Off the Streets

One of the key benefits of the Tyre EPR framework is the creation of designated collection and transport systems that prevent tyres from being abandoned in public spaces. Under this system, producers and their authorized partners, such as Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), are responsible for ensuring that end-of-life tyres are gathered from various points in the supply chain and sent to certified recycling or recovery facilities. This proactive logistics network replaces the informal, unregulated disposal practices that have long contributed to roadside tyre litter and related safety hazards.

These designated routes for collection ensure that tyres do not accumulate in vacant lots, rural intersections, or near highway shoulders—areas where they can obstruct vehicles, attract pests, or become fire hazards. Instead, tyres are picked up from service centers, dealerships, and scrapyards on a scheduled basis, reducing the risk of unsupervised stockpiling. The transport of tyre waste is also subject to tracking and documentation requirements, adding a layer of accountability. This system not only streamlines recovery operations but also makes it easier for regulators and local authorities to monitor compliance and intervene when irregularities arise.

Through the EPR system, producers and registered PROs (Producer Responsibility Organizations) must ensure that collection points and reverse logistics systems are operational and accessible. This reduces the tendency for informal disposal and ensures tyres are picked up before they become a hazard. The more efficient and widespread this infrastructure becomes, the fewer abandoned tyres we see in public spaces, especially along transport corridors.

Supporting Certified Recycling Units: Turning Risk into Resource

With tyres being directed to certified recyclers, the risks associated with illegal burning and open dumping are significantly mitigated. Recyclers can safely convert tyres into crumb rubber, pyrolysis oil, or retreaded units—supporting a circular economy while removing hazardous waste from circulation. Some state governments have also begun integrating EPR data into urban planning to identify hotspots of tyre waste and pre-emptively tackle safety concerns.

• Tyre EPR reduces roadside waste that can lead to collisions or injuries
• Organized recycling prevents hazardous storage and open burning
• Certified logistics ensure safer urban and rural public spaces

Public Awareness and Enforcement: A Key Safety Enabler

While regulations like Tyre EPR provide the structural foundation for responsible disposal, their effectiveness ultimately depends on how well the public understands and supports them. Public awareness and strong enforcement are two essential pillars that bridge the gap between policy intent and real-world impact. Without informed citizens and proactive oversight, even the most robust frameworks can fall short of their safety and environmental goals.

Many individuals and businesses remain unaware of the risks associated with improper tyre disposal. For instance, used tyres from private vehicles are often handed off to local mechanics or scrap dealers without any knowledge of their final destination. In the commercial transport sector, large volumes of tyres from buses, trucks, and fleet operations may be sold to informal handlers who dispose of them through unregulated channels. These practices can result in tyres ending up on roadsides, in vacant lots, or being openly burned—endangering communities and motorists alike.

To counter this, targeted awareness campaigns are vital. These campaigns should explain the dangers of illegal dumping, highlight the role of EPR in improving road safety, and educate consumers on how and where to responsibly discard used tyres. Outreach can take many forms—from digital media and billboards to community workshops and industry partnerships. Schools, driver training institutes, transport unions, and municipal bodies all serve as potential touchpoints for spreading accurate information.

On the enforcement side, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and local authorities must play a more active role in monitoring tyre flows and ensuring compliance. With the introduction of the CPCB’s online EPR portal, tracking the origin, collection, and recycling of tyres has become more transparent—but data alone isn’t enough. Physical inspections, audits of collection points, and penalties for non-compliance are essential tools for keeping the system credible and effective.

• Many tyre users remain unaware of safe disposal practices or their risks.
• Digital campaigns and grassroots outreach can boost public understanding.
• Enforcement mechanisms must include audits, fines, and regular inspections to deter non-compliance.

When public education is combined with strong enforcement, the results are transformative. Roads become safer, informal dumping declines, and both producers and consumers are more likely to participate in the circular economy. In the long run, a well-informed public is one of the most powerful drivers of road safety and sustainable waste management—making awareness and enforcement not just complementary, but critical to the success of Tyre EPR.

For EPR regulations to truly improve road safety, public awareness and enforcement must go hand in hand. Many tyre users—especially in the commercial transport sector—are still unaware of disposal responsibilities or the risks of ignoring them. Targeted awareness campaigns, strong enforcement by SPCBs, and integration with road safety programs can dramatically increase compliance while reducing the incidence of waste-related hazards.

The Role of Transport Unions and Fleets in Safer Disposal

Transport companies and fleet operators generate high volumes of tyre waste. Their active participation in the EPR system—by working with registered recyclers and adhering to disposal norms—can eliminate a major source of roadside tyre litter. Several large logistics firms have begun using digital tracking tools to map tyre lifecycle, improving compliance and safety alike.

Paving the Way to Safer, Cleaner Roads

As we look toward the future, the potential of tyre EPR to transform both road safety and environmental quality becomes increasingly clear. Responsible tyre cycles don’t just eliminate hazards—they actively contribute to resilient infrastructure planning, sustainable resource use, and community well‑being. By integrating lifecycle accountability with practical disposal solutions, India can set a global standard for turning waste into a driver of progressive change.

One way this transformation manifests is through the incorporation of recycled tyre materials into public works and urban design. Crumb rubber derived from recycled tyres is already being used in surfacing playgrounds and athletic tracks, while innovative pilot projects are testing its use in asphalt blends. These applications not only repurpose tyre waste but also create safer, more shock‑absorbent surfaces—benefiting road users and pedestrians alike. Over time, as demand grows, this kind of circular reuse strengthens the entire network of mobility infrastructure.

Moreover, as tyre EPR systems mature, data from digital tracking can inform smarter planning of collection hubs, processing centres, and safe-stow zones. Strategically locating these around high-traffic corridors helps prevent dumping and reduces logistics costs. It also enables transport and urban development agencies to forecast tyre waste volumes, helping them design roadsides and public spaces with active waste management in mind—whether through designated stockpile zones or integrated recycling units.

Over time, a few key benefits become clear:

• Cleaner roadsides and fewer in‑transit obstructions along highways and local roads
• Reduced fire and health risks from uncontrolled tyre piles
• Improved adhesion and resilience of public surfaces (walkways, playgrounds) using recycled rubber
• Stronger alignment between waste management and urban/transport planning frameworks

However, this vision depends on continued collaboration across stakeholders. Producers must honour their EPR commitments, recyclers need scale and innovation, while regulators and urban planners must coordinate to embed tyre-safe design into public infrastructure. Public participation also plays a vital role: when communities understand how tyre waste affects them, they become natural allies in monitoring, reporting, and supporting collection efforts.

Ultimately, paving the way toward safer, cleaner roads isn’t just about tyre disposal—it’s about creating a feedback loop where sustainability, safety, and design reinforce each other. When every discarded tyre is treated as both a liability and an opportunity, we move closer to a transportation ecosystem that’s resilient, resource-efficient, and ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

Tyre EPR is not just a regulatory formality—it’s a strategic lever to reduce risk, reclaim resources, and build safer roads. By shifting from informal disposal to responsible recovery, India can address two major crises at once: environmental degradation and road safety. As producers, recyclers, and the public embrace this model, we edge closer to a cleaner, safer transportation ecosystem—where tyres serve their purpose without becoming a post-use peril.