Valorpneu has introduced Ecovalor fees for retreaded tires placed on the Portuguese market, following new legislation that changes how environmental charges are applied under the country’s waste management framework.

The shift stems from Portaria n.º 150/2024/1, published in April 2024, which requires ecofees to be differentiated across waste systems and formally classifies retreaded tires as products newly placed on the market. As a result, they are now subject to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees.

The updated Ecovalor system came into effect on January 1, 2026. While retreaded tires benefit from a 10% lower fee compared to standard tires, they are no longer exempt. For instance, the Ecovalor fee for passenger tires is set at €1.48 per unit, while retreaded equivalents are charged €1.34. These fees contribute to financing Portugal’s national system for the collection and treatment of end-of-life tires managed by Valorpneu.

Alongside this change, Valorpneu also revised Ecovalor fees for new tires and reiterated that the charge must be clearly itemized as a separate line on invoices, in line with national compliance requirements.

Previously, Portuguese legislation allowed fee modulation based on environmental impact and waste management costs, which Valorpneu used to fully exempt retreaded tires through a 100% bonus. According to Climénia Silva, this exemption had been voluntarily applied until the end of 2025 to support retreading as a circular economy practice.

However, the 2024 decree made the application of an ecofee mandatory, removing that flexibility. Valorpneu opposed the measure and proposed amendments to maintain the previous system, but these have not been accepted by the government.

The decision is raising concern within the retreading sector. Since retreaded tires reuse existing casings, the original product would already have been subject to an EPR fee when first placed on the market. Applying the fee again at the retreading stage introduces what industry stakeholders see as a form of double charging, potentially increasing costs and weakening the economic case for retreading.

Valorpneu has warned that the change represents a step backward for circular economy objectives, as it may discourage one of the most established and resource-efficient practices in the tire industry.

Article source: Valorpneu