Tyre recycling guide
What happens to old tyres when they are scrapped?
Old tyres are classified as hazardous waste in most countries and cannot be landfilled whole (banned in the EU since 2003) or shredded (banned in most EU countries since 2006). Collected end-of-life tyres (ELTs) are processed into rubber crumb (used in playground surfaces, artificial turf, road asphalt, and insulation), tyre-derived fuel (TDF, burned in cement kilns), or pyrolysis oil. In the EU, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes require tyre manufacturers and importers to fund collection and recycling. About 95% of ELTs are recovered in EU member states with mature EPR systems.
- Old tyres are classified as hazardous waste in most countries and cannot be landfilled whole (banned in the EU since 2003) or shredded (banned in most EU countries since 2006).
- Collected end-of-life tyres (ELTs) are processed into rubber crumb (used in playground surfaces, artificial turf, road asphalt, and insulation), tyre-derived fuel (TDF, burned in cement kilns), or pyrolysis oil.
- In the EU, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes require tyre manufacturers and importers to fund collection and recycling.
FAQ
- What happens to old tyres when they are scrapped?
- Old tyres are classified as hazardous waste in most countries and cannot be landfilled whole (banned in the EU since 2003) or shredded (banned in most EU countries since 2006). Collected end-of-life tyres (ELTs) are processed into rubber crumb (used in playground surfaces, artificial turf, road asphalt, and insulation), tyre-derived fuel (TDF, burned in cement kilns), or pyrolysis oil. In the EU, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes require tyre manufacturers and importers to fund collection and recycling. About 95% of ELTs are recovered in EU member states with mature EPR systems.
- What should I verify before using this information?
- Use TireFitLab values as a sizing reference, then verify the vehicle handbook, tire placard, rim compatibility, load rating, and physical clearance before fitting.
Why tyres are regulated waste
A used tyre is a complex composite material: typically 47% rubber (natural and synthetic), 22% carbon black, 15% steel, 6% textile cord, and 10% other chemicals including anti-ozonants, vulcanisation agents, and plasticisers. This mixture:
- Does not biodegrade on any practical timescale
- Creates a fire risk when stockpiled — tyre fires are extremely difficult to extinguish and produce toxic smoke
- Provides an ideal breeding habitat for disease-carrying mosquitoes when water pools in tyre wells
- Can leach zinc, cadmium, and aromatic compounds into groundwater
The EU Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) banned whole-tyre landfilling in 2003 and shredded-tyre landfilling in 2006, which forced EU member states to develop alternative recovery pathways.
Key facts and figures
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| ELT generated in EU per year | ~3.4 million tonnes |
| ELT recovery rate (EU member states) | ~95% |
| Rubber in a typical car tyre | ~4.5 kg (natural + synthetic) |
| Steel in a typical car tyre | ~2–3 kg (bead wires + belt cords) |
| Carbon black in a typical car tyre | ~2 kg |
| EU landfill ban whole tyre | 2003 |
| EU landfill ban shredded tyre | 2006 |
How old tyres are recycled: the main routes
| Recovery route | Process | End use | EU share (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber crumb (granulate) | Shredded and cryogenically or ambient-ground to 0.5–4 mm rubber granules | Playground surfaces, artificial turf infill, sports tracks, road asphalt (rubberised asphalt), acoustic insulation, moulded products | ~41% of ELTs by weight |
| Tyre-derived fuel (TDF) | Whole or shredded tyres used as fuel supplement (37 MJ/kg, similar to coal) | Cement kilns (main consumer), paper mills, power plants — replacing coal and petcoke | ~39% of ELTs by weight |
| Pyrolysis (chemical recycling) | Thermal decomposition at 400–600°C in absence of oxygen, yields oil, carbon black, steel, and gas | Pyrolysis oil → fuel oil or chemical feedstock; recovered carbon black → filler in new products; steel wire → steel mills | ~5% and growing |
| Devulcanisation | Breaking the sulfur cross-links that give vulcanised rubber its structure, restoring processability | Reclaimed rubber for new rubber products — though mechanical properties are lower than virgin rubber | Niche — commercial scale limited |
| Material reuse (retreading) | The tyre carcass is inspected and rebuffed; a new tread is applied and cured onto the old casing | Retreaded tyres for trucks, buses, and aircraft — extends tyre life significantly | ~10% of truck tyre market |
| Landfill / illegal dumping | N/A — prohibited in EU since 2003 (whole) and 2006 (shredded) | None — environmental hazard: fire risk, mosquito breeding, groundwater contamination | Residual illegal fraction only |
Rubber crumb in detail
Rubber crumb is produced by two main grinding methods:
- Ambient grinding — tyres are shredded at room temperature using steel mills. Produces coarser granules (2–20 mm). Lower energy cost, suitable for larger crumb.
- Cryogenic grinding — tyres are frozen with liquid nitrogen (−120°C) and then shattered. Produces finer, rounder granules (0.5–2 mm) with cleaner steel separation. Higher energy cost, used where fine particle size matters (eg. powder for moulded goods).
One controversy around rubber crumb concerns its use as infill in artificial turf football pitches. Some studies have raised concerns about potential leaching of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The EU ECHA risk assessment (2021) concluded that rubber crumb from ELT is safe for use in sports pitches under normal conditions, but ongoing monitoring is recommended.
Pyrolysis — the future of tyre recycling?
Pyrolysis converts rubber into:
- Pyrolysis oil (35–45% yield) — usable as fuel oil or further refined into petrochemical feedstock. Some companies are closing the loop and using it to manufacture new synthetic rubber.
- Recovered carbon black (rCB, 30–35% yield) — can partially replace virgin carbon black in tyre manufacturing. rCB quality is currently lower than N234/N330-grade virgin carbon black but improving with purification technology.
- Steel wire (10–15% yield) — sold to steel mills as scrap.
- Pyrolysis gas (10–15% yield) — typically used on-site to power the pyrolysis reactor.
Major tyre manufacturers (Michelin, Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear) have set targets to use 40–80% sustainable materials by 2030–2050, and all are investing in pyrolysis-derived raw material supply chains.
How to dispose of tyres legally
- Take your used tyres to a registered tyre retailer when fitting new tyres — most retailers are required by EPR schemes to accept old tyres at no extra charge or a small handling fee.
- Contact your local authority recycling centre — many municipal waste sites accept a limited number of tyres per household per visit.
- If disposing of a large number of tyres (fleet, farm, etc.), contact a licensed waste management company with an ELT treatment permit.
- Never burn, bury, or dump tyres illegally — penalties range from fines to criminal prosecution in most jurisdictions.
Retreading: extending tyre life before recycling
Retreading is not recycling — it is reuse. A sound tyre carcass can be retreaded when the original tread wears out, provided the structure (sidewall, bead, belts, inner liner) is intact. Retreaded tyres are legal and common on commercial vehicles; approximately 40% of truck tyres in Europe are retreads. A retreaded tyre uses approximately 30–40% less oil than manufacturing a new tyre.
More tools
- Tyre storage guide
- Tire age guide
- Tire tread depth guide
- Tire size calculator
- Tire & wheel reference guides
Seasonal check
Planning a long summer drive?
Use the budget and running-cost tools before a trip, especially if the current tyres are worn or the replacement size changes diameter.
What changed
- Reviewed deterministic geometry, load/speed references, sitemap inclusion and localized page shell.