WDK calls for “binding” end-of-waste regulation for tires

Frankfurt am Main, Germany – German rubber industry association the WDK has called for a “comprehensive and binding” end-of-waste (EoW) regulation for tires to strengthen the circular economy for the product.

In a statement 26 March, the association said the lack of uniform criteria for end-of-waste status, means that the valuable secondary raw materials continue to be legally considered waste.

“This leads to legal uncertainty, hinders investment and restricts the market integration of sustainable recycled materials,” said WDK technical director Stephan Rau.

Calling for an end-of-waste regulation for Germany and all of Europe, Rau said such a move would strengthen the recycling sector and facilitate investment in modern technologies.

Furthermore, it would help to sustainably reduce the CO? footprint of the rubber and tire industry, according to the WDK executive.

Additionally, WDK called for “a quantitative and transparent tracking system for used-tire flows” to be incorporated into legislation.

Used tires, it said, should only be collected by certified disposal companies and pre-sorted according to their intended use under a waste-hierarchy that prevent illegal exports.

According to WDK, tires classified as reusable during sorting and meeting EoW criteria should be designated as “products.”

Currently, tires that go to material recyclers or for thermal or chemical processing remain classified as waste.

Those that can be retreaded lose their waste status and become “pre-products.”

WDK, therefore, demanded retreaded tires must “finally be recognised as fully-fledged products.”

“It is unacceptable that this sustainable alternative to new tires is hindered by inconsistent and outdated regulations,” said the WDK statement.

The association also called for tax incentives to be introduced to reward companies that use retreaded tires.

The statement also proposed that R&D projects for improved retreading technologies must be specifically supported to further optimise the lifespan and safety of these tires.

Additionally, an energy labeling regulation (tire label) for retreaded tires should also be implemented.

On the recycling front, WDK said a ‘clear EoW status’ can make mechanically recycled tire granules or power more economically viable, reducing the demand for new rubber.

Here, it called for an EU-wide harmonisation of EoW criteria and binding chemical content limits based on a risk-based migration analysis.

The association also called for a mandatory use of tire granulate and powder in construction and infrastructure projects.

For chemical recycling of used tires, WDK said the “forward-looking technology” must be supported by regulations.

“Recovered carbon black (rCB) and tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) are not waste products but valuable raw materials that can replace fossil-based materials,” it said.

The association demanded that rCB and TPO should be recognised as “fully-fledged secondary raw materials through clear EoW regulations.”

Furthermore, it called for financial support programmes to scale up this technology

Another form of support, it said, would be simplified approval procedures for pyrolysis plants to facilitate companies' transition to this sustainable technology

“A uniform and ambitious end-of-waste regulation for the tire circular economy is long overdue,” the Frankfurt-based industry body stated.

The EU must "strengthen the internal market for recycled materials, promote investments, and drastically reduce dependence on primary raw materials,” WDK concluded.