Hidden Value in Tire Recycling

The German rubber industry, represented by the German Rubber Industry Association (WDK), has identified significant untapped potential in tire recycling, urging for tighter regulation and better oversight of scrap tire flows to fully leverage the circular economy. 

Key findings and industry calls include:

• High Current Performance: Last year, Germany generated 533,000 tonnes of scrap tires, with nearly 70% remaining within the circular economy through reuse, retreading, and material recycling.  Approximately 200,000 tonnes were processed into granules and rubber powder. 

• Regulatory Barriers: WDK technical managing director Stephan Rau warned that market potential is constrained by how chemical components are assessed.  The industry calls for a risk-based approach and binding limit values based on migration analysis and bioavailability, a view supported by Germany’s federal institute for risk assessment (BfR). 

• Tracking Deficits: The association highlighted that a portion of used tires is not recycled within Germany or Europe, with around 100,000 tonnes remaining undocumented annually.  WDK is calling for complete recording of all used tires to prevent illegal exports and ensure valuable secondary raw materials are retained.

• Technological Advances: Companies like Continental and startups like Pyrum Innovations are advancing chemical recycling via pyrolysis to recover high-quality raw materials, aiming to replace fossil resources and reduce CO2 emissions, though high-quality 100% recycled rubber tires remain commercially elusive. 

Learn More:

• Tire Pyrolysis Technology & ELT Processing
  → https://kleanindustries.com/products/tire-pyrolysis/
• Recovered Carbon Black (rCB Solutions)
  → https://kleanindustries.com/products/recovered-carbon-black/
• Waste-to-Energy & Circular Economy Projects
  → https://kleanindustries.com/projects/
• Plastic & Rubber Recycling Technologies
  → https://kleanindustries.com/solutions/
• Global Recycling Policy & Market Insights
  → https://kleanindustries.com/insights/

Capture the Untapped Value in Tire Recycling with Klean Industries

Germany is widely recognized as a global leader in tyre recycling—but even the most advanced systems reveal a critical truth: significant value is still being lost within the circular economy.

Recent industry insights show:

• ~533,000 tonnes of scrap tyres generated annually
• Nearly 70% retained within the circular economy through reuse and recycling

Yet despite these strong performance metrics, the German Rubber Industry Association (wdk) has identified substantial untapped potential, driven by:

• Gaps in material flow tracking and transparency
• Inconsistent regulatory frameworks across regions
• Loss of valuable feedstock through undocumented or suboptimal pathways
• Underutilization of high-value recovery technologies

Klean Industries enables the transition from high recycling rates → high-value recovery systems:

• Advanced tire pyrolysis technologies producing fuels, recovered carbon black, and gas
• Integration of recycling systems with downstream chemical and energy markets
• Enhanced feedstock traceability and circular supply chain design
• Proven expertise in unlocking value from underperforming recycling ecosystems

As global markets mature, the next competitive advantage is clear: maximize value per tonne—not just recycling rates.

Contact Klean Industries to unlock the full value of your tyre recycling system » GO.