ETRMA releases 2006 tyre recovery stats

Archiv – The positive trend in Europe’s management of used tyres was confirmed in 2006 with more than 87% recovered in some way across the EU’s 27 member states plus Norway and Switzerland.European Union | The positive trend in Europe’s management of used tyres was confirmed in 2006 with more than 87% recovered in some way across the EU’s 27 member states plus Norway and Switzerland.
According to statistics from the Brussels-based European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), this represents an increase of three percentage points in the recovery rate compared to 2005. The association identifies the EU Landfill Directive as a major driver of this improvement.
More than 3.2 million tonnes of used tyres was generated in the EU last year. While retreading remains at 12% and incineration through energy recovery is stabilising at around the 32% mark, material recycling increased its treatment share to 34% in 2006 from 11% a decade earlier. This is a sign that the slowly-maturing market for end-of-life-derived products is sustainable and economically viable, says ETRMA. The association adds that landfilling should continue to decline with the expected adoption of producer responsibility schemes in other countries where recovery rates are currently lower than the European average.
Among other applications, end-of-life tyres can be used in bituminous mixtures for road construction, thereby delivering increased road durability, reduced traffic noise and better drainage. Scrap tyres in shredded form can also be used in electric arc furnaces as a substitute for anthracite, with 1.7 kg of tyres equating to 1 kg of anthracite.