The Municipality of Valdivia in Chile has launched its third end-of-life tire recycling campaign of 2026, inviting residents to deliver used tires to a municipal collection point throughout the remainder of November. The campaign is being coordinated by the municipality’s Circular Economy and Hazardous and Recoverable Waste Section and follows two earlier collection drives held in January and May, during which 1,200 tires weighing a combined 22 tonnes were recovered. According to the municipality, tires collected through these campaigns are transported by a contracted company for recovery and reprocessing into raw materials for new products. Officials said that before the initiatives were introduced, significant volumes of used tires ended up in landfills, illegal dumps and vacant sites, creating pollution and public health risks. The November campaign is intended to provide residents with a formal disposal route while supporting tire recycling and broader circular economy objectives in Valdivia.

Third tire recycling campaign runs through November

The municipality announced that the latest campaign will continue during the remainder of November 2026.

Residents can deliver end-of-life tires to municipal facilities at Parque Harnecker, accessible from Avenida Pedro Montt 779.

The collection point will operate from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:00.

Previous campaigns collected 1,200 tires

Valdivia held two earlier tire recycling campaigns in January and May 2026.

Together, those initiatives collected approximately 1,200 tires of different sizes, with a total weight of 22 tonnes.

The volume recovered during the first two campaigns prompted the municipality to continue offering dedicated collection for end-of-life tires.

Residents encouraged municipality to create dedicated tire collection

Álvaro Pacheco of the municipality’s Circular Economy and Hazardous and Recoverable Waste Section said public participation in earlier recycling campaigns was particularly strong for tires.

According to the municipality, residents themselves encouraged the development of a campaign specifically focused on this waste stream.

Collected tires sent for material recovery

The tires recovered through the municipal campaigns are transported by a contracted company for final management and material recovery.

The municipality said the recovered tire material is revalorized as raw material for the manufacture of other products.

This approach keeps end-of-life tires within a controlled recovery system instead of sending them directly to disposal sites.

Campaign aims to reduce illegal tire dumping

Valdivia officials said that before dedicated collection initiatives were introduced, significant quantities of waste tires ended up in landfills, illegal dumps and vacant sites across the municipality.

Providing an accessible collection route is intended to reduce uncontrolled disposal and improve traceability of end-of-life tires.

Waste tires can create pollution and public health risks

The municipality said improper disposal of tires can create both environmental and sanitary problems.

Large accumulations of end-of-life tires can become persistent waste sites and require additional public resources for cleanup and management.

Tire recycling forms part of Valdivia circular economy program

The campaign is being organized by the municipality’s Circular Economy and Hazardous and Recoverable Waste Section within its environmental department.

The initiative forms part of wider municipal efforts to separate recoverable materials from disposal streams and direct them toward recycling and reuse.

Dedicated collection improves access for households

Municipal campaigns can provide an important disposal option for residents who may otherwise have limited access to formal end-of-life tire collection services.

By establishing a temporary centralized collection point, Valdivia aims to make responsible tire disposal more convenient while concentrating material for efficient transportation and recycling.

Material recovery replaces disposal route

The municipality emphasized that tires collected through the campaign are not simply transferred to another disposal site.

Instead, the contracted operator recovers the material for use as a secondary raw material in new products, supporting a circular economy approach to waste tire management.

Valdivia seeks continued community participation

Municipal officials are encouraging residents with unused tires stored at home to bring them to the Parque Harnecker collection point before the campaign ends.

Continued participation could increase the volume of end-of-life tires diverted from landfills, illegal dumps and vacant land while supplying additional material to tire recycling and recovery operations.

Source: Municipality of Valdivia.