Madrid, 29 July 2025 – In 2024, SIGNUS managed a total of 222,406 tonnes of end-of-life tires (ELTs). Based on an average passenger tire weight of 8.1 kg, this equates to approximately 27,337,351 tires.

Of the total volume collected, 12.5% was prepared for reuse as second-hand or retreaded tires. Nearly half (48.5%) was recycled into products for various applications, while the remaining 39% was used for energy recovery, mainly as a substitute for fossil fuels.

In terms of final applications in 2024, recovered tire materials were used to install approximately 260 football fields (25,767 tonnes), construct around 3,900 playgrounds (19,268 tonnes), and contribute to 350 kilometers of roads (3,714 tonnes). There was also growing use of pyrolysis technology, enabling the recovery of new secondary raw materials such as recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

Focus on alternatives ahead of EU microplastics restriction SIGNUS is actively promoting solutions in response to the upcoming European ban on polymeric infill materials smaller than 5 mm, scheduled for October 2031. This change will affect artificial turf fields, which currently account for about 50% of the recycled rubber market.

In this context, pyrolysis and the use of rubber-modified asphalt mixtures are gaining increased attention. The organization has also led the PERSEUS Project, in collaboration with Campezo, Moeve, and Asfaltia, with funding from CDTI. This project enables the direct integration of rubber granulate into asphalt mixtures, partially replacing aggregates. A test section has already been laid on a road managed by the Provincial Council of Biscay.

While pyrolysis remains a challenge in Spain, several early-stage projects are working to recover materials such as carbon black, pyrolysis oil, and gases for internal process use. However, the volumes and quality are still insufficient for use in new tire manufacturing, posing a major hurdle for the industry.

Expanding recycled rubber applications Beyond these two primary end uses, SIGNUS continues to explore new applications for recycled tire rubber. In 2024, the organization worked on the GREENFU project, which investigates the use of recycled rubber in thermoplastic manufacturing. Additionally, SIGNUS published the CITYRE guide, which outlines various applications for recycled rubber in urban environments. These efforts aim to diversify markets for rubber recycling, especially in light of the forthcoming EU regulations.

Press release by SIGNUS.