EU tyre recycling numbers continue to improve - ETRMA

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels - In its latest report on the scrap tyre segment, the European Tyre and Rubber manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) said 95 percent of used tyre arisings in the region were recovered and correctly disposed of in 2011. The total volume in 2011 was an estimated 3.3 million tonnes, an increase of 3 percent over the equivalent figure from 2010.

ETRMA said it tracked 2.897 million tonnes from countries outside the UK. Since UK data was not available, the group estimated the UK figure at 0.43 million tonnes.

Looking at the detailed treatment routes, 2011 features an increase in material recovery (+0.5 percent) but a decrease in energy recovery (-2 percent). A more in-depth analysis of material recovery shows that whilst granulation increased by 2 percent and the reuse of ELTs for other purposes (dock fenders, blasting mats, …) by 47 percent, there was a downturn in the use of ELTs going to civil engineering & public works applications (-10 percent) and a reduction of the use of ELTs in steel mills and foundries (-33 percent).

In terms of volume, the production of rubber granulate and powder is the main material recovery route (83 percent), followed by civil engineering and public works applications (14 percent), dock fenders, blasting mats (3 percent) and steel mills and foundries (0.4 percent). As regards energy recovery, the main user of ELT shreds or whole tyres remains the cement industry (92 percent

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Press release from ETRMA

Country-by-country data table from ETRMA