Mexico is moving to formalize circular economy practices in one of its most visible waste streams: end-of-life tires.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the National Chamber of the Tire Industry (CNIH) have signed a framework agreement designed to overhaul how discarded tires are managed, linking waste reduction goals with industrial competitiveness.
The initiative aligns with the presidential plan to establish a Circular Economy Park in Hidalgo, a facility intended to serve as a model for recycling integration and sustainable production. Tires, long a problematic waste stream due to their persistence in landfills and open dumps, are positioned at the center of this reform effort.
At the core of the agreement is the creation of a coordinating body bringing together manufacturers, distributors, recyclers, and government regulators. This platform will focus on developing technical standards, ensuring traceability across the value chain, and advancing an extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework. The EPR model is viewed as critical for shifting the burden of waste management upstream, incentivizing companies to integrate recovery and reuse into their business strategies.
According to José Luis Samaniego, Deputy Minister for Sustainable Development and Circular Economy at SEMARNAT, the private sector’s involvement is not only vital for advancing sustainability but also for maintaining economic competitiveness. He framed circular economy adoption as both an environmental necessity and an industrial policy tool, preventing waste from burdening municipalities while redirecting materials into secondary raw markets.
The agreement is closely tied to the rollout of Circular Economy Development Poles for Well-Being (PODECIBI), with the Hidalgo park serving as the pilot site. These hubs are envisioned as nodes where recycling infrastructure, business investment, and municipal coordination intersect. By embedding tire recycling into broader industrial processes, the government aims to demonstrate how waste streams can fuel new economic activity while reducing ecological liabilities.
The presence of multinational tire manufacturers and local recycling firms at the signing underscored the industry’s buy-in. Juan Pablo Ríos, President of CNIH, described the framework as a turning point, presenting it as both an environmental commitment and a strategic positioning of the industry in a global context where sustainability is increasingly tied to market access.
Companies such as Michelin, Pirelli, and Bridgestone, alongside domestic players like Grupo Avise and Tuzagreen, are now expected to engage not only in compliance but in shaping the technical and commercial viability of large-scale tire recycling. With millions of tires entering the Mexican market annually, the scale of the opportunity—both in environmental and financial terms—is significant.
