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Review
. 2025 Feb;43(2):181-191.
doi: 10.1177/0734242X241237104. Epub 2024 Mar 23.

Eco-management of end-of-life tires: Advances and challenges for the Ecuadorian case

León Padilla  1 , Ángela Díaz  1 , Wendy Anzules  1
Affiliations
Review

Eco-management of end-of-life tires: Advances and challenges for the Ecuadorian case

León Padilla et al. Waste Manag Res. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyse the performance of the extended producer responsibility model for the management of end-of-life tires (ELTs) in Ecuador that has been implemented since 2013. For this research, we conducted case studies of, and subsequently, a comparative analysis between, the ELT management system in Ecuador with respect to the ELT management models in Colombia and Brazil. Our findings show that although the programme implementation represented a significant advance in Ecuador's waste management system there are important challenges that should be considered in future adaptations of the programme. Among the measures that can be adopted to improve the ELT management system are the consolidation and stimulation of the market for products made from ELT waste; promotion of other productive sectors linked to the creation of new products and sectors that generate complementary products; enhancement of the generation, socialization and access to knowledge of the waste by-products for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; increase the tire consumer fee, known as 'Ecovalor' and improvement of the quality and availability of information and indicators regarding ELT management. In this sense, the experiences of Colombia and Brazil show important lessons for the Ecuadorian case.

Keywords: Ecuador; End-of-life tires; Latin America; circular economy; extended producer responsibility; waste management system.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Compliance with the national destination target by tire manufacturers and importers in Brazil (2009–2020). Source: IBAMA (2022).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Graphic representation of the traditional life cycle of the tires in Ecuador until 2013. Source: Adapted from Ministerial Agreement 98 information.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Graphic representation of the Instructive for the Integral Management of Used Tires. Source: Adapted from Ministerial Agreement 98 information.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Recovery of used tires in Ecuador (2020–2022). Source: Ministerio del Ambiente (2024).
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Graphic representation of the challenges for future versions of Integral Management of Used Tires. Source: Adapted from research findings.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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