The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association – ETRMA – has consolidated data on the management of End of Life Tires for 2019 covering 32 European countries (EU27, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey and UK). According to ETRMA, 94% of end-of-life tires in the 32 countries were collected and treated for material recycling and energy recovery.

ETRMA says this situation is quite comparable to the previous years with tire recycling rates fluctuating between 92% and 95%. The European tire industry is committed to an innovative and sustainable economy. End-of-life tires are collected and their treatment is organized across European countries, the vast majority operating under EPR. Secondary raw materials from end-of-life tires are important resources for industries such as construction, automotive and cement.

The detailed analysis of the data (see ETRMA’s linked Table below) shows that, compared to the previous year, the arising of end-of-life tires in Europe (3,45Mt) in 2019 decreased by about 3% to the previous year. About 1,88 million tons of end-of-life tires were treated through material recovery.

ETRMA highlights that this figure includes 1,34 million tons sent to granulation process; 458.000 tons of end-of-life tires were incorporated in cement, resulting from the co-processing; 82.300 tons were used in civil engineering applications. Some other minor applications in processes such as pyrolysis, steel mills and foundries, and other uses complete this figure. In 2019, a total of 1,37 Mt of end-of-life tires went through energy recovery, ETRMA writes.

The quantity of end-of-life tires, stocked or unknown, and waiting for treatment, is half compared to the previous year’s figures, amounting to 170.000 tons.

Press release by ETRMA.