The Zare initiative is a coalition of currently 18 companies organized under the Federal Association of Tire Trade and Vulcanizing Trade e.V. (BRV) – of which 17 are certified waste-management enterprises – that aim to raise awareness of proper tire recycling in Germany.
Partners
The initiative informs about environmentally responsible used-tire disposal. Currently there are 29 locations of Zare partners in Germany and the Netherlands.
Among the other partners are the Allgemeine Gummiwertstoff und Reifenhandels GmbH, Bender Reifen Recycling GmbH, Containertransporte Wesseler GmbH, CVS Reifen GmbH, Danninger OHG Spezialtransporte, Erwin Welzenbach Spedition GmbH, G & K Recycling Utsch GmbH, Hartung Speditions-, Handels- und Transport GmbH, HRV GmbH, Kargro B.V., Kraiburg Austria GmbH &
Co. KG, Kurz Karkassenhandel GmbH, Mondo Reifenmarkt GmbH, MRH Mülsener Rohstoff- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Reifen Draws GmbH, Reifen Külshammer, Reifengruppe Ruhr und Reifen OKA – Reifenhandel.
Repeated illegal disposal
Also in August there were again serious cases of illegal tire disposal recorded: in a wooded area near Bergkamen (NRW) for example on 12 August 2025 around 40 used tires were illegally dumped. The city reported repeated environmental damage in this area.
In the last one-and-a-half years there have been four times larger quantities of tires illegally disposed of there. The police have opened investigations into the most recent case.
Additionally, on 17 August 2025 in the Bavarian Heideck about 50 used tires were
discovered on a secluded field path - with the variety of tire models according to the police indicating a commercial origin.
These are, however, according to Zare, only two examples among many. The initiative regularly records reports of illegal dumping from across the country. Municipalities would incur high disposal costs and people as well as nature would be endangered.
Environmental damage and high costs
Zare notes that tires do not decompose, remain in the environment for decades and their bulk endangers animals and plants. Moreover, this would contribute to the pollution of soils and bodies of water.
Furthermore, nationwide costs in the millions would arise from illegal dumps, which would often have to
be borne by municipalities – the perpetrators would usually remain unidentified.
Depending on the federal state, fines for illegally disposed tires can amount to up to 300 euros, according to the initiative. However, this does not deter many offenders – especially in rural or hard-to-access areas.
No misdemeanor
According to Zare, used tires should be disposed of exclusively via certified disposal specialists to ensure that they are properly reintegrated into the cycle – through retreading, mechanical or thermal recovery or export as used tires.
“Illegal disposal is not a misdemeanor, but an environmental offense,” emphasizes Christina Guth, network coordinator at Zare.
Therefore, according to Guth, every individual bears responsibility – both drivers and
