SIGNUS managed 230,901 tonnes of end-of-life tires in Spain in 2025, equivalent to more than 28 million passenger tires, according to the collective system’s latest annual results. The organization said the managed volume was 5.5% above the regulatory obligations established for companies participating in the system. During the year, SIGNUS served 25,758 workshops and other generation points and coordinated 116,959 collection operations, reflecting the scale of Spain’s end-of-life tire collection and recycling network. The results show continued reliance on a combination of material recovery, reuse, retreading and energy recovery, while the entry into force of Royal Decree 712/2025 has started a new phase for Extended Producer Responsibility, traceability and circular economy development in the Spanish tire recycling sector.

Collection network served more than 25,000 generation points

SIGNUS said its 2025 operations involved 25,758 workshops and other tire generation points across Spain. The organization coordinated 116,959 collection operations during the year, which it said was equivalent to collecting tires from one point in Spain every minute.

The collective system said the total managed volume of 230,901 tonnes was equivalent to more than 28 million passenger tires. Placed one after another, those tires would cover about 18,000 kilometers, or almost half a trip around the Earth.

Material recovery gave new life to tire components

According to SIGNUS, five out of every ten tires managed in 2025 began a new life as raw materials. These recovery routes allow rubber, steel and textile fibers from end-of-life tires to be used in new applications.

The organization said recovered materials are used in products and sectors including sports flooring, playgrounds, roads and construction materials. These applications support tire recycling, rubber recycling and circular economy objectives by keeping valuable tire-derived materials in productive use.

Reuse and retreading extended tire life

SIGNUS said one out of every ten tires managed in 2025 could be prepared for reuse, either as a second-hand tire or through retreading. These routes are important within the waste hierarchy because they extend the useful life of suitable tires or tire casings before final recycling or recovery.

Retreading can reduce the need for new raw materials and energy by allowing tires that meet technical and safety requirements to remain in use for longer. Reuse and retreading therefore complement material recycling and recovery in the broader end-of-life tire management system.

Energy recovery used tires as industrial fuel

Almost four out of every ten tires managed by SIGNUS in 2025 were directed to energy recovery. The organization said this route takes advantage of the high calorific value of tires as a substitute for fossil fuels in certain industrial processes.

Energy recovery remains one outlet within end-of-life tire management, although SIGNUS also emphasized its work to increase the value of recovered materials and develop new uses for recycled rubber.

Royal Decree 712/2025 changes EPR framework

The 2025 financial year was also marked by the entry into force of Royal Decree 712/2025, which redefines Spain’s Extended Producer Responsibility system for tires. SIGNUS said the new regulatory framework has started an adaptation process for the organization and its participating producers.

As part of this transition, SIGNUS has created SIGNUS Asociación, a new entity that brings together producers attached to the system. The organization is also developing a Strategic Valorization Plan aimed at increasing the value of recovered materials and opening new opportunities for their use.

Innovation remains central to SIGNUS activity

SIGNUS said innovation continued to be one of the pillars of its work in 2025. The organization promoted projects focused on new applications for recycled rubber in sectors such as construction, automotive and infrastructure.

These projects aim to create higher added-value uses for recovered tire materials and keep resources in the productive cycle for longer. Such applications may strengthen markets for crumb rubber, rubberized asphalt, molded products and other tire-derived materials.

SIGNUS highlights collaboration across the tire value chain

With its 2025 results, SIGNUS said it reaffirmed its commitment to a model based on environmental efficiency, innovation and collaboration. The organization works with manufacturers, workshops, managers and public administrations to ensure that tires at the end of their useful life are treated as resources rather than waste.

The reported results underline the scale of Spain’s tire recycling system and the importance of coordinated collection, material recovery, retreading, energy recovery and regulatory adaptation. SIGNUS said its 2025 annual report is available on its website.

Article source: SIGNUS.