PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Post-Consumer Tyres are an important waste stream in Europe, and globally. Recycled Tyre Materials (RTMs) are used to produce new materials such as rubber, steel fibres, and textile fibres. These materials are then used in many different products and applications, from roads and road furniture to sports field surfaces, from building materials to infrastructure – and many others. At their end-of-life, tyres are collected and their treatment (through material recycling and energy recovery) is organised through End of Life Tyres (ELT) Management Companies across EU countries, the vast majority of these operating under Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. In 2019, 95% of ELTs were collected and treated for material recycling and energy recovery in Europe. Material recycling attained a level of 38% of tyres collected under national tyre management schemes, which is still low compared to other waste streams. Ensuring an effective market for RTMs is imperative to enable the expansion of recycling, reducing the need for hazardous storing, or shipping abroad for incineration. Existing outlets are not sufficient to absorb growing quantities, unless encouraged. The market will need a concerted stimulus - economic incentives - and greater awareness from crucial markets. Barriers and obstacles will have to be identified and overcome.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of RE-PLAN CITY LIFE is to raise awareness of the use of RTMs among relevant stakeholders (e.g. technicians of public administrations, policymakers), to promote the increased use of RTMs in buildings, infrastructure and urban areas.
The project team will:
- Expand visibility of the significant work done with RTMs, making knowledge and relevant information available through a web application;
- Implement and promote Green Public Procurement (GPP) in collaboration with companies and public administrations, define tender specifications to create opportunities for recycling companies to expand environmentally-sound markets, and make available to procurers an easy and reliable verification of green requirements;
- Implement practical initiatives to develop the circular economy principles for RTMs and their applications in the urban environment.
The project contributes to the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, Waste Framework Directive, and other policies related to waste management and resource use efficiency.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- GPP Guidelines for RTMs prepared and presented to 800 EU public administrations, with at least 200 administrations adopting them. At least 3 procurement cases per participating country implemented (France, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain, Poland, Slovenia);
- Circular Economy RTM Plan developed that identifies solutions, incentives, tools (also for the web portal) and benefits for the entire value chain derived by using RTMs. The Plan will be widely disseminated to stakeholders during the various training activities, and is expected to be adopted by at least 300 public administrations;
- A programme of Awareness and Training Workshops, including 10 international events held throughout Europe, 16 national events in targeted countries, and 14 virtual events, to create awareness about the uses of RTMs, the implementation of GPP, and how to develop and provide hands-on training sessions, with at least 400 technicians/year involved;
- Data collected and analysed, in addition to the Community Data Base and the RTMs Product and Application Inventory, organised in a web-based application and other ICT tools. This will include data on products and applications, cities and public administrations, tyre recyclers, suppliers, installers, and their locations. The web-based platform will enable communication between suppliers and users of RTMs;
- Increased material recycling by 1% annually (around 32 000 tonnes) for at least 5 years. According to the data available, every 32 000 tonnes of post-consumer tyres diverted from export (i.e. sent for incineration) towards local companies involved in the material value chain of tyre recycling leads to the creation of 150-200 jobs.
