Thousands of tonnes of microplastic shed from tyres end up in water system Microplastics shed when cars brake end up in water systems where they are thought to harm wildlife Tyres for recycling at a car dismantlers Credit: Andrew Crowley Thousands of tonnes of tyre microplastics are washed into UK waters each year, a report has warned, as electric vehicles could make the problem worse. Analysis by waste firm SUEZ and consultancy Soenecs concluded that 63,000 tonnes, the equivalent of 9m standard car tyres, is being shed each year on UK roads, just over half of which ends up in the water system.