The 2008 statistics released by the ETRMA show a continuation in the pattern seen over the last 15 years or so, a period during which the disposal of scrapped tyres in landfills has decreased from more than 60% in 1994 to around 5% today. The number of used tyres receiving ecological treatment has increased by an average of 4% per annum, ETRMA notes. The organisation adds that these figures demonstrate the efficiency of the strategy deployed by its European tyre manufacturer members in anticipating the regulatory, environmental and economic challenges imposed by the EU landfill ban.

In 2008, up to 60% of the 3.3 million tonnes of end-of-life tyres in the European market were collected and treated under producer responsibility obligations. While energy recovery continues to account for around 35% of these tyres, materials recycling has benefited most from falling landfill usage.

Acknowledgement

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