Quercus proposes new measures to increase tyres recycling

Quercus started in February a study on the situation of tyres recycling, and found an optimistic scenario, although some measures are lacking to allow a full implementation of important aspects.

Rubber resulting from tyres recycling has, as main applications, artificial lawns (synthetic) for football fields, asphalt for the roads and sportive and recreational pavements made of rubber.

1 – Homologation/certification of recycled materials

In order to eliminate any doubt of Portuguese consumers about the quality of products resulting from tyres recycling, it is fundamental that certain applications of recycled rubber be subject to an homologation/certification process.

This is particularly relevant in the case of modified recycled rubber asphalt applied to roads paving.

This application is an excellent way to use rubber wastes, since it increases pavements lifetime, reduces its thickness, the noise and increases vehicle adherence.

Quercus has been establishing some contacts with companies that work in this area in order to accelerate the process of homologation/certification of their products.

2 – Consumption of recycled rubber in public constructions

The inclusion, on the public works instructions/conditions, of mandatory minimum consumption of recycled rubber products is a fundamental measure that will allow the market of recycled rubber to expand.

In this context, Quercus has contacted the entity responsible for the management of used tyres, Valorpneu (http://www.valorpneu.pt/), and a strategy of evaluation of the European reality in terms of legislation regarding mandatory consumption of recycled rubber in public constructions is being implemented.

For example, in Spanish legislation there are clear indications regarding the use of products resulting from recycled rubber.

After the legislation evaluation, we propose that, together with other entities such as Waste Institute, Road Institute of Portugal, and the Municipalities National Association, we proceed to the definition of how to implement such an initiative in Portugal.

We also propose that, as soon as possible, the legislative proposal regarding the management of construction and demolition wastes be approved. This legislation anticipates the consumption of certain percentages of recycled materials in the public construction sector, and certainly, recycled rubber can have an important role to play in this scenario.

3 – The importance of reducing of tyres burn in cement-kilns

At present, a significant amount of used tyres are being incinerated in Secil’s Cement factory in Maceira, and Secil´s unit in Outão has requested an authorization to incinerate tyres “chips”.

After some investigations, the Environmental Commission, of which Quercus is a member, has come to the conclusion that “chips” were actually triturated tyres, in other words, raw material to the recycling industry.

The two industries that recycle tyres in Portugal have confirmed to Quercus, that they were not interested in sending to Secil those raw materials, since the market for recycled rubber products has a tendency to grow.

Quercus considers that if Secil in Outão wants to honor their commitment with the Environmental Commission of not to co-incinerate recyclable wastes, they must abandon the idea of co-incinerate “chips” of tyres.

This attitude will be important, not only because it will prevent an undesirable intrusion of incineration in the recycling sector, but also because it will increase the credibility and transparency of the communication process that is being developed by Secil Outão.

On the other hand, Quercus believes that for co-incineration should only be evaluated the possibility of sending the textile wastes resulting from tyres recycling, that at present are being landfilled. This waste is composed, essentially, by textile with some rubber and steal threads and represents 25% of the tyres weight.

Finally, Quercus is trying to find out with Waste Institute and Valorpneu, how was it possible for more than 4 thousand tones of tyres “chips” to be sent, from a recycling unit, to Secil in Outão.

4 – High dimension tyres

Besides tyres from normal vehicles (cars and trucks), there are other kind of tyres like the ones from tractors or machines, whose recycling is complicated, mainly due to their huge dimensions and thickness of steel threads.

With the objective of testing the recycling of these tyres, Quercus, together with recycling companies and a landfill for common industrial wastes, is promoting the realization of some recycling tests on these materials.

5 – Legislation on tyres

The legislation regarding used tyres is Decreto-Lei nº111/2001 de 6 de Abril (http://www.netresiduos.com/cir/noticias/bddoc/pneus1.doc) that establishes the following targets:

According to Valorpneu data, in 2003 86,4% (59 thousand tonnes) of tyres were collected, of which, 32,2% were recapped.  Of the remaining tyres collected and nor recapped, 75,4% were recycled, 22,9 used to produce energy and 1,8% sent to landfill.

The targets established by legislation are being fulfilled, but it is possible to do more for recycling and achieve more ambitious targets. With that idea in mind, Quercus proposed this series of measures, and hope, with the involvement of official entities and companies, to promote a significant increase in recycling in a way that will allow for an update in the targets presented in legislation.

Lisboa, 24 of March 2005

Quercus – National Association for Nature Conservation

Contacts: Rui Berkemeier - +351 934 256 581