Climate-ready for the future: Keeping tires and their raw materials in circulation and recycling them
Every year, over 500.000 tons of used tires are generated in Germany. These are collected and inspected by certified waste management companies. Tires that can no longer be repaired, re-treaded, or retreaded are sent for climate-friendly recycling – for example, mechanical recycling.
In mechanical recycling, tires are broken down into their components using modern technology. This allows the valuable secondary raw materials from tires (steel wire, textile fibers, and especially rubber) to be kept in circulation instead of being landfilled, exported, or burned as secondary fuel.
In specialized shredding and granulation plants, the tires are mechanically shredded in a multi-stage process, broken down into their components, and processed into high-quality secondary raw materials. After the removal of textile fibers and steel, the granulated rubber from the tires (approximately 75% of the volume) is finely ground to the desired final particle size.
First, the tire fragments are pre-shredded to a particle size of approximately 50 to 150 millimeters, usually using rotary shears or twin-shaft shredders. In a further step, the tire fragments are broken down and further shredded in a granulator. Through a combination of cutting, tearing, and crushing, the material is separated further, resulting in a regrind with a particle size of approximately five to ten millimeters.
Various methods are used in the subsequent fine grinding process. In addition to hot grinding, cryogenic grinding is also employed, in which the material is cooled to temperatures as low as minus 100 degrees Celsius. This extreme cooling makes the rubber brittle, allowing it to be broken down into its individual components with exceptional cleanliness and precision – resulting in high-quality rubber powder.
Due to the particularly durable rubber material, the mechanical recycling of tires is technically demanding. At the same time, the industry places high demands on the quality of recycled rubber, as the recovered materials must precisely match the respective application conditions.
Recycled tire rubber granules and powder are used to manufacture a variety of high-quality products for diverse industries and applications. These include road construction, sports and playgrounds, noise barriers, and various sealing and molded parts. Products made from tire rubber granules and powder are robust, weatherproof, durable, and require minimal care and maintenance. Manufactured in Germany, these products benefit from short transport routes and adhere to the highest environmental and quality standards.
Through mechanical tire recycling, hundreds of thousands of tons of waste and CO₂ are produced annually in Germany.2Emissions are avoided, natural resources are conserved, valuable raw materials are kept in circulation, and energy is saved. Furthermore, mechanical tire recycling contributes to strengthening the regional economy, securing jobs, reducing dependence on raw material imports, and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
