Valencia cleans up post-flood tyres

The city of Valencia in Spain has recycled more than 30 000 end-of-life tyres collected in the aftermath of last year’s catastrophic floods. 

The initiative was part of a EUR 180 million emergency waste plan launched after storm Dana. The disaster left over 800 000 tonnes of waste, roughly the waste generated in Valencia in an entire year. The figure represents 11% of Spain’s annual waste output.

Growing recycling network

The Collective Extended Producer Responsibility Systems, supported by tyre collection organisations such as Signus and TNU, led the recycling efforts. The collaboration aims to prevent the illegal disposal of tyres while boosting their reuse.

The latest data indicates that Spain collects upwards of 238 000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres per annum at 31 800 sites. Almost 53% is recycled with 36% going for energy recovery and 11% for reuse.

More mechanical recycling

Over five million tonnes of new tyres are produced in the EU annually, resulting in three million end-of-life tyres. With energy recovery gaining ground in recent years, Spain’s recycling industry is calling for a focus on mechanical recycling.

Both TNU and the Spanish Association of Recycled Tyres have backed EuRIC’s Manifesto for a Competitive Tyre Recycling Sector. ‘It is essential to promote the use of recycled rubber and prevent resources from leaving Europe only to be incinerated,’ they argue. ‘We fully agree on the need to move toward a more coherent and sustainable model.’

Both parties are calling for government action. Recommendations include:

• establishing tax incentives for the use of recycled materials
• creating a legal framework that ensures recycled materials have an outlet, value and recognition in the market
• promoting reduced VAT rates for recycled materials and products made from them
• supporting initiatives through green public procurement