Belgium Recycled Over 90,000 Tons of Used Tires in 2025
Belgium set a new recycling record in 2025, giving a second life to 90,188 tonnes of used tires out of 93,685 tonnes collected nationwide, according to the annual report published by Recytyre, the non-profit organization responsible for coordinating tire recycling across the country. The achievement represents a valorization rate of approximately 96.3% and marks the highest collection and recycling figures ever recorded in Belgium.
How the System Works
Recytyre was founded in 1998 as a management organization for used tires by the six main tire manufacturers and importers operating in Belgium. It now represents nearly 770 members and operates under Belgium’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, meaning tire producers and importers are financially and operationally responsible for the end-of-life management of their products.
As RTBF reported, the tires were processed across 60 treatment plants throughout Belgium. The organization emphasized that “each treated tire has found a precious and sustainable outlet as new raw material, without any energy recovery” — meaning none of the collected tires were incinerated for fuel.
Breakdown of Collection Sources
The 93,685 tonnes of used tires collected in 2025 came primarily from two sectors: 60% originated from the tourism sector (passenger cars, SUVs, and similar vehicles), while 30.7% came from heavy trucks. Meanwhile, 743 members of Recytyre placed a total of 108,697 tonnes of new tires on the Belgian market during the same period, representing a collection rate of approximately 86.2% relative to new market placements.
A Growing Trend
The 2025 figures represent a significant acceleration in Belgium’s tire recycling capacity. According to historical data compiled by La Libre via Belga, the collected tonnage has risen steadily from 83,703 tonnes in 2017 to 86,575 tonnes in 2018, approximately 86,000 tonnes in 2022, 87,441 tonnes in 2023, and now 93,685 tonnes in 2025 — a roughly 12% increase over eight years.
Circular Economy in Action
Belgium’s tire recycling system demonstrates a fully functioning circular economy model. Used tires are collected from garages, tire dealers, and collection points across the country, then sent to treatment plants where they are processed into rubber granulate (used for sports surfaces and playgrounds), rubber powder (for new rubber products), recovered steel, and textile fibers.
As RTBF noted in a 2023 report, Belgium has long been a European leader in tire recycling, with rates consistently exceeding 95%. The country’s success is attributed to two key factors: improved collection infrastructure and the introduction of an environmental contribution fee paid at the point of purchase of new tires, which funds the free return and recycling of end-of-life tires.
Environmental Significance
The environmental impact of this achievement is substantial. Keeping over 90,000 tonnes of tires out of landfills or illegal dumping sites prevents soil and water contamination, while material recycling — as opposed to energy recovery through incineration — significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to burning tires for fuel.
Belgium maintains strict regulations against tire dumping, with Recytyre coordinating enforcement and collection across all three regions: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital. The organization’s extended producer responsibility model ensures that the costs of recycling are built into the price of new tires, creating a self-sustaining system that incentivizes proper disposal.
Analysis: A Model for Circular Economy
Belgium’s tire recycling program stands out as a practical example of circular economy principles in action. Unlike many waste streams where a significant portion ends up incinerated for energy recovery, Recytyre’s commitment to 100% material valorization means every collected tire is transformed into a new raw material. This distinction is critical from a climate perspective — material recycling typically generates far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than incineration or landfilling.
The system’s financial model is equally noteworthy. By embedding the cost of end-of-life management into the purchase price of new tires through an environmental contribution fee, Belgium has eliminated the economic incentive for illegal dumping. Consumers pay a small fee upfront but can return used tires free of charge, creating a convenient and cost-free disposal pathway that drives high participation rates.
Looking Ahead
While the 2025 figures represent a milestone, the sector faces challenges ahead. The traditional use of recycled rubber granulate for synthetic sports fields is facing regulatory headwinds in Europe over concerns about microplastic pollution, pushing the industry to develop new applications. Chemical recycling — which breaks down rubber into its molecular components to produce higher-quality materials capable of being used in new tire manufacturing — is emerging as a promising avenue, though it has not yet reached industrial scale.
Recytyre’s continued growth in membership (from six founding members to nearly 770 today) suggests that Belgium’s tire recycling infrastructure will continue to expand. With collection volumes rising year after year and a firm commitment to zero energy recovery, the country is solidifying its position as a European leader in circular waste management. The 2025 data confirms that Belgium’s model works — and is getting stronger every year.