Sistema Integrado de Gestión Automotriz (SIGA Chile) has announced a fourth tender for the collection of end-of-life tires (ELTs), targeting three northern regions of Chile with a combined collection volume of 710,000 kilograms.

The tender, identified as LIC 0026 MACRO ZONA NORTE, is part of SIGA’s continued rollout of its waste management system under Chile’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law, aimed at strengthening national collection and recovery infrastructure for end-of-life automotive products, including tires.

Collection targets across northern Chile

The tender covers three regions:

  • Arica y Parinacota Region – 50,000 kg
  • Tarapacá Region – 500,000 kg
  • Antofagasta Region – 160,000 kg

Companies can submit bids for individual regional contracts or offer combined services covering the full tender area, an approach designed to encourage participation from both regional and larger-scale operators.

According to SIGA, expanding local participation is intended to improve operational efficiency while supporting collection systems that reflect regional logistics and infrastructure needs.

Expanding tire recycling capacity

Northern Chile presents unique operational challenges due to its geography, industrial activity, and long transport distances, making efficient collection networks critical for traceability and environmental compliance.

Strengthening ELT collection infrastructure is a key first step in supporting downstream tire recycling and material recovery. Once collected, end-of-life tires can enter rubber recycling systems where they may be processed into crumb rubber for products such as rubberized asphalt, construction materials, and artificial turf applications.

Advanced recovery pathways such as pyrolysis can also convert end-of-life tires into products including tire-derived oil, recovered carbon black (rCB), and pyrolysis char, contributing to broader circular economy and sustainability goals.

Improving collection coverage helps ensure more tire material enters formal recycling streams rather than unmanaged disposal routes.

Part of Chile’s broader EPR rollout

The latest tender follows SIGA’s third procurement process launched in January 2026, which focused on expanding collection and recovery systems in additional regions across Chile.

That process included regional collection contracts in Maule, La Araucanía, and Los Lagos, as well as recovery tenders structured by northern and southern macro-zones covering treatment facilities in multiple regions.

SIGA’s objective is to build a nationwide network that improves logistics, increases traceability, and supports environmentally responsible waste management while increasing the reintegration of recovered materials into productive use through recycling, reuse, and energy recovery.

Focus on long-term sustainability

Commenting on the latest initiative, SIGA said the tender is intended to strengthen collection networks in strategic regions while improving operational efficiency and supporting compliance with national collection targets.

For Chile’s tire recycling sector, expanding collection capacity is an important part of building a stronger circular economy system, improving recovery rates, and supporting long-term sustainability through more effective management of end-of-life tires.

Article source: SIGA.