Estonia, Legislation, Markets and Companies, Transport

The manager of Eesti Rehviliit, Kaur Kuurme, said the tire changing season this spring put recyclers before that fact that it is no longer possible to go on with the present arrangement.

"With the present recycling fee, which is 55-75 euros per ton, it is not possible to recycle tires in a sustainable manner. Sustainable recycling solutions would require a price level of at least 150 euros a ton," Kuurme said.

Marek Moorus, manager of the Rehvid24 tire selling portal, said a price rise would put the competitiveness of Estonian tire sellers at risk.

"While a price rise would be inevitable if the recycling fee is raised, it could be done only if the same recycling fee applied to all the companies that are active on the market, including the so-called grey sector that pays no recycling fee at all," Moorus said.

Kuurme meanwhile said that Eesti Rehviliit, the importers that are its members, as well as representatives of the authorities are in favor of a price rise.

"The only thing preventing a price hike is unhealthy competition with Rehviringlus. There are two recycling organizations in Estonia, one of which collects and recycles used tires and the other only collects. Understandably, recycling of tires is several times more expensive than just piling them into heaps," he said.

Municipalities and individuals in Estonia can still leave their scrap tires at the collecting points of Rehviringlus.