Tratamiento Neumáticos Usados (TNU) closed the 2024 financial year with 92,160 tonnes of end-of-life tyres (ELTs) processed, of which 11.35% were allocated to reuse (6.29% to second use and 5.06% to retreading), 39.21% to material recovery (with applications in paving, construction materials and industry) and the remaining 49.45% to energy recovery, mainly as an alternative fuel
These results, published in the 2024 TNU Annual Report, reaffirm its commitment to the responsible and sustainable management of end-of-life tyres in Spain. The organisation uses a model that meets legal requirements and focuses on efficiency, reuse and environmental responsibility, fully aligned with Law 7/2022 on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy.
“Recycling is not just collecting, it is transforming. Every tyre we manage is an opportunity to build a more circular, fairer and more resilient economy,” said Juan Ramón Pérez, President of TNU.
Throughout 2024, TNU has managed to maintain full national coverage, providing uninterrupted service and adapting to the real needs of the replacement market, mainly due to the effective coordination with producers, workshops, managers and logistics operators.
Despite rising management costs, TNU has managed to keep its fees stable through ongoing operational optimisation: redesigning routes, adjusting frequencies and improving internal procedures to increase efficiency without compromising service quality.
One of the sector’s key challenges is still the development of new uses for recovered materials. TNU remains committed to retreading as the first option for recovery, together with the principles of the waste hierarchy and the circular economy, while still supporting the development of innovative projects, such as pyrolysis.
During 2024, TNU organised a wide range of communication and awareness activities, with a presence in the media, on social networks, at outreach events and through public campaigns. A particular highlight was its participation in the European Week for Waste Reduction, with the “Tyre Care Day”, promoting the message that prevention is also recycling. The organisation was also a part of events such as ExpoRecicla, while also collaborating in information sessions focused on vehicle inspection centres.
TNU stresses that the circular economy will only be viable if all actors in the system (manufacturers, importers, distributors, workshops, managers, public administrations and citizens) assume their share of responsibility.
“The transition towards a truly circular economy is not the destination; it is the journey. At TNU, we continue walking that path alongside all sector stakeholders,” concluded Javier de Jesús Landesa, Chief Operating Officer.
