Industry snapshot
Key public data points
Historical & forecast
Base year 2023. Each series is official through its own latest government-data year (shown in the legend on each chart), and years beyond that are Claight estimates. As of July 2026 the current year is still in progress (2026 annual data is not yet published), so the forecast runs to 2028.
Get in touch and our analysts will be happy to help with custom market sizing, deeper segmentation, supplier detail or a bespoke study built for you.
Connect to an analyst →Industry Definition and Scope
What does the Tire & Rubber Recycling in European Union industry cover?
The tire and rubber recycling industry in the EU encompasses the systematic collection, shredding, granulation, and specialized treatment of end-of-life tires (ELTs) to extract secondary raw materials. Rather than treating used tires as waste, the industry processes them into reusable constituents, separating vulcanized rubber, steel wire, and textile fibers for downstream applications.
- •Primary output includes rubber granulates and powders used in athletic turf, asphalt, molded rubber products, and civil engineering.
- •The sector isolates high-quality steel wire, which represents up to 28% of the material weight in processed commercial tires.
- •Operations exclude retreading processes (which fall under manufacturing) but directly supply raw materials for devulcanization and pyrolysis.
Market Structure and Operators
Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?
The European market structure is highly defined by the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model, which dictates how ELTs are funded and routed through national waste management systems. Under this framework, tire manufacturers and importers finance collective organizations to coordinate collection and secure feedstock for contracted recycling facilities.
- •Around 94% of ELT management in Europe is organized through EPR schemes, minimizing stockpiles and unauthorized dumping.
- •National producer responsibility organizations (PROs) act as central clearinghouses, directing flows to regional shredding and granulation plants.
- •The sector supports more than 28,000 direct jobs and over 75,000 indirect jobs across the European waste and logistics value chain.
Demand Drivers
What drives demand in the industry?
Demand for tire recycling is driven by a combination of strict EU waste diversion targets and the industrial demand for sustainable secondary materials. Downstream industries such as construction, automotive manufacturing, and chemical production increasingly seek recycled alternatives to lower their environmental footprints.
- •In 2019, mechanical recycling consumed 1.88 million tonnes of European ELTs, driven by granulation and civil engineering demands.
- •Co-processing in cement kilns utilized 458,000 tonnes of ELTs in 2019, providing a simultaneous fuel source and material replacement for clinker production.
- •Strong municipal demand exists for rubber infill and safety tiles in urban playgrounds, sports fields, and noise barriers.
Competitive Landscape and Notable Public Companies
Who are the notable companies in the industry?
The competitive landscape features a mix of specialized rubber processing multinationals, waste management conglomerates, and collaborative public-private recycling consortia. Leading entities operate advanced material-separation plants that utilize cryogenic or ambient grinding to produce high-purity rubber fractions.
- •Genan Holding A/S is a prominent international rubber recycler, operating multiple processing plants in Europe and reporting a group revenue of €64 million in 2025.
- •Aliapur operates as France's primary ELT management organization, overseeing the collection and processing of over 380,000 tonnes of tires annually.
- •Commercial operators such as Eldan Recycling A/S provide highly specialized industrial shredding and recycling machinery to European processors.
- •Technological companies like Contec and Wastefront AS are scaling advanced pyrolysis plants within Europe to recover high-value carbon black and oil.
Recent Trends and Outlook
What are the recent trends and outlook?
The European industry is transitioning toward chemical recycling pathways, specifically pyrolysis, to convert rubber waste back into circular chemicals. This trend is accelerated by market demands for recovered carbon black (rCB) and pyrolysis oils, which can replace fossil-based inputs in tire production.
- •Advanced separation technologies are achieving Grade A specifications, ensuring less than 1% rubber contamination in recovered steel.
- •Industry investment is shifting toward devulcanization, a chemical process that allows recycled rubber to be re-vulcanized in new tire compounds.
- •A historical decline in tire stockpiles has redirected processing focus entirely to fresh, annual ELT generation streams.
Regulation and Compliance
How is the industry regulated?
The industry operates under the strict regulatory framework of the EU Waste Framework Directive, which defines the waste hierarchy prioritizing recycling over recovery. Additionally, strict chemical safety and market-entry standards ensure that processed rubber products comply with human health guidelines.
- •The EU Waste Framework Directive enforces the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements that mandate systematic collection.
- •Recycled rubber outputs must comply with EU REACH regulations to limit polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in consumer products.
- •Standardized quality specifications, such as CEN/TS 14243, define particle size and purity requirements for granulated rubber.
Sources
Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.
- ETRMA European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association ELT Statistics ·
- European Commission Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) ·
- Genan Holding A/S Annual Report 2025 ·
- Eurostat NACE Rev. 2 Classification Database
Claight analysis of public industry data.