Europe's Largest Tyre Recycling Plant Opens in the Netherlands to Boost Circular Manufacturing

Europe Takes a Major Step Toward Sustainable Tyre Recycling

The European tyre recycling sector has reached a significant milestone with the inauguration of the largest tyre recycling facility in Europe. Located in Delfzijl, Groningen, the Netherlands, the new Circtec plant is expected to transform the management of end-of-life tyres by converting them into high-value secondary raw materials through advanced continuous pyrolysis technology.

The project reflects Europe's growing commitment to circular manufacturing and reducing dependence on virgin fossil-based resources while supporting the automotive and chemical industries with sustainable alternatives.

High-Capacity Recycling Operation

The facility enters commercial operation with an initial processing capacity of approximately 50,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually, with future expansion planned to increase capacity to 200,000 tonnes per year.

Once fully operational, the plant is expected to become one of the world's largest advanced tyre recycling facilities, helping Europe recover a larger share of valuable materials from discarded tyres instead of sending them to landfill or low-value recovery.

Recovering Valuable Raw Materials

Using advanced pyrolysis technology, the facility converts used tyres into several commercially valuable products, including:

• Recovered carbon black for new tyre and rubber manufacturing.

• Circular naphtha for the chemical industry.

• Pyrolysis oil for renewable fuel production.

• Recovered steel for recycling.

• Sustainable feedstocks for industrial applications.

These recovered materials help reduce CO₂ emissions while supporting manufacturers seeking lower-carbon supply chains.

Strategic Importance for the European Tyre Industry

The opening comes at a time when European regulations are increasingly encouraging recycled content, resource efficiency and circular business models.

For tyre manufacturers, access to locally produced recovered carbon black and recycled feedstocks could reduce exposure to raw material price volatility while improving environmental performance.

Industry experts believe investments of this scale will accelerate innovation across the European tyre value chain and encourage further development of advanced recycling technologies.

About Circtec

Circtec is a European clean technology company specializing in advanced recycling solutions for end-of-life tyres. The company focuses on recovering high-quality raw materials that can be reintroduced into industrial production, supporting the transition toward a circular economy.

Industry Perspective

Demand for sustainable raw materials continues to grow as tyre manufacturers pursue ambitious environmental targets. Large-scale facilities such as the Delfzijl plant are expected to play an increasingly important role in securing reliable supplies of recycled materials for future tyre production.

As Europe tightens environmental regulations and expands circular economy initiatives, advanced tyre recycling is likely to become a strategic pillar of the continent's industrial competitiveness.

Official Sources: European Commission, Circtec, Invest in Holland, Bilfinger.