Millions of used tires outside the system. Private imports and loopholes litter the forests
The tire circulation system in the economy, in accordance with the regulations, covers 75%. weight of tires introduced to the market. The remaining one quarter is “lost” because no one is responsible for their management. This means that they are neither subject to energy recovery nor recycling, and often simply end up in forests. Experts emphasize the need to change the recovery and recycling limits in force since 2007, which could increase the results achieved in this area. A higher share of recycling means not only environmental benefits, but also the possibility of using the residue as a raw material.
Recipes from 18 years ago
– Used tires go to raw material recycling, but also to energy recovery, and unfortunately some of them also to the environment. In accordance with regulations unchanged for 18 years the mandatory recycling level in Poland is only 15%. In total, recycling and energy recovery amount to 75%, according to the act, but it is difficult to say what happens with the remaining 25%, says Andrzej Kubik, vice-president of the Polish Tire Recyclers Association, to the Newseria agency.
According to the PSRO report “History in full swing (2025)”, Poland ranks last in the European Union in terms of the level of tire recycling and recovery and the number of unused tires. We have some of the least demanding rules among the Member States.
No records, no obligations
– Recycling of all this accounts for about 15%. up to 30 percent, depending on the type of tires. Certain types of tires are not required to be recycled at all. This is the so-called massive tires that are not covered by any legislation, therefore their manufacturers do not have to worry about extended producer responsibility. Similarly, private vehicle importers do not have to worry about this, because the tires that enter Poland with each car are not recorded in any way – emphasizes Andrzej Kubik.
These two tire streams, which are not covered by the extended producer responsibility system, total several million units. Although they are not recorded, they do require management after use.
What needs to be done to make it better?
– To improve the existing and absolutely unsatisfactory situation, we first of all need legislative changes. This is necessary for extended producer responsibility to work to its full extent, then we will have both higher levels of recycling and less polluted forests – says the vice-president of PSRO.
According to a survey conducted by the association among approximately 100 local governments and forest districts, in the years 2019-2024 (until March), over a thousand tons of tires were abandoned at illegal dumping sites in 64 entities (which knew about the existence of dumping sites). This gives an annual average of approximately 250 tons (approx. 25,000 pieces) in the environment. However, in 2024-2025, 840.63 tons (84,630 pieces) of waste tires were illegally stored – this is data collected from 69 units that had information about them.
– Tires are released into the environment as a result of certain legislative negligence, which led to… the municipal economy is not interested in collecting these tires because the plants' budgets do not provide for it. Depending on the court's rulings, a tire is sometimes considered municipal waste and sometimes it is not. Therefore, the collection of tires does not constitute fulfillment of their recycling obligation for municipal companies – emphasizes Andrzej Kubik.
The industry is fighting to change regulations
As he points out, the industry has been trying to change the applicable law since 2021. In 2025, the Ministry of Climate and Environment conducted pre-consultations on new regulations. As it reported in October, in the case of all pneumatic tires it sees the need to raise the levels to 95%. for recovery and 50 percent for recycling. It was also announced that the obligation would be extended to solid tires, as the possibilities of their use and market share are increasing, which translates into an increase in waste generated from them. The recovery and recycling limits considered by the Ministry of Environmental Protection are 80 percent, respectively. and 40 percent Following the changes in the minimum levels, the ministry also announces the adjustment of product fee rates for failure to achieve these levels.
– Of course, we, as recyclers, are able to process 100 percent. tires introduced to the domestic market, while these 90 percent We are already completely satisfied, especially since we will share approximately half and half with cement plants that will perform energy recovery – says the expert.
According to the PSRO report, approximately 8.5 million (over 85 thousand tonnes) tires in Poland are burned in cement kilns every year. If they were sent for mechanical recycling, an additional approx. PLN 60,000 could be saved. t CO equivalent2. The life cycle environmental footprint analysis cited in the report showed that the carbon footprint of mechanical tire recycling is four to five times lower compared to incineration. However, market mechanisms make it more profitable to transfer tires for energy recovery.
Incineration is more profitable than recycling
– Raw material recycling, i.e. recovery of secondary raw materials from used tires, is nevertheless a very labor-intensive and energy-intensive process. Producers are obliged under extended producer responsibility to make subsidies for this type of process. So they prefer to give the tires to, for example, a cement plant, where they get money for them, just like they would for alternative fuel. Tires have a very high energy value, over 30 gigajoules per tonne, therefore It is economically more profitable to incinerate them than to recycle them – explains Andrzej Kubik.
The annual tire recycling capacity of companies associated with PSRO is estimated at over 400,000. t. This means that they can utilize almost 100 percent. tires introduced to the Polish market annually. According to data obtained for PSRO from the Ministry of Climate, there were 405,000 of them in 2024. t. However, the lists do not include tires imported from abroad along with used cars of natural persons.
– In total, we have over 10 mechanical tire recycling plants throughout the country. Their potential is currently only half used. And these are not only tires obtained from the domestic market. These are also tires that we, as recyclers, import from neighboring countries, i.e. from the Baltic countries: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as from Western European countries, i.e. Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and even France – emphasizes the vice-president of the Polish Association of Tire Recyclers.
Worn tires may be a source of many valuable secondary raw materials. As a result of mechanical recycling, three material fractions are created:
- rubber granulate (about 70%),
- steel wire (about 15%)
- textile cord (about 15%).
– Steel fraction it simply goes to steelworks as steel scrap, however rubber granulatei.e. the largest fraction, has a number of various applications, including rubber-modified asphalts, entire road infrastructure, sports surfaces, products, and accessories. There are many such applications, explains Andrzej Kubik.
In animal husbandry, mats made of rubber granules provide adequate cushioning and thermal insulation. It is also used in the production of industrial carpets, anti-vibration pads and various technical products. Textile cord it can be used as an alternative fuel in industrial processes, allowing for more sustainable energy recovery.
PSRO informs that the first surfaces using tire recyclates have already been created in Poland. This solution, on the one hand, improves the strength and durability of roads, and on the other hand, increases traction, reduces noise levels and shortens the braking distance of vehicles.
– The consequences of leaving the situation at its current level, i.e. unchanged for 18 years, may be dramatic for both the economy and the environment. Tires are a valuable source of secondary raw materials, the value of which can be counted in billions of zlotys, and if they escape us, either in smoke or polluting the environment, we will lead to significant losses in the state's economy – explains the vice-president of PSRO.
