Sustainable Recycling of End-of-Life Tires

Annual global production of end-of-life tires (ELTs) is estimated to be approximately one billion units, or 17 million tons, and production is on an upward trajectory. This trend is driven by population growth, economic expansion, and advancement in the transportation industry, all of which have led to an increasing number of vehicles on the roads, especially in developing regions. South Korea alone generates an average of 389,000 tons of ELTs are generated each year (as of 2023). Of this figure, 307,000 tons of ELTs are produced when individuals and businesses replace their tires; the rest (82,000 tons) comes from scrapped vehicles. This makes the effective management of this waste resource is a public concern and major policy imperative. As ELT volumes continue to rise, collection and recycling management have become increasingly important. In Korea, the Korea Tire Manufacturers Association (KOTMA) collaborates closely with tire manufacturers and importers to help meet recycling obligations and establish agreements with ELT collection and transportation companies. ELTs collected from tire shops, service centers, and scrapyards are typically directed to cement production facilities and power plants, as well as to materials recycling firms specializing in rubber powder and rope production, where they are repurposed. In this paper, I evaluate the current state of ELT recycling in Korea and abroad, and identify a handful of important policy implications carried by the results of the analysis.