en.Wedoany.com Reported - Chile's state-owned copper company Codelco has signed an agreement with Neuvol, Chile's first collective management system for used tires (UT) and end-of-life tires (ELTs), aiming to add value to this critical operational input. Through this agreement, Codelco becomes the first large-scale mining company in the country to recycle Category A end-of-life tires under the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (REP Law).

The first milestone of this alliance is the processing of 47.52 tons of Category A end-of-life tires (ELTs) from mining equipment at the Chuquicamata Underground mine, with rim diameters smaller than 57 inches. Through a management company in northern Chile partnered with Neuvol, Codelco recycles and adds value to these tires.

"This model is expected to be replicated in other divisions of Codelco," said Pablo Contreras, Climate Action Manager of the state-owned company. "We are making significant progress in implementing the circular economy, aligning with our purpose of becoming a pillar of sustainable development in Chile and the world." Contreras added, referring to the corporate goal of recycling and/or reusing 65% of non-hazardous waste by 2030.

Fernando Promis, Manager of Community Affairs and Sustainable Development for Codelco's northern operations, stated that one of the benefits of this project is clearing areas where end-of-life tires are stored, which helps maintain the continuous operation of underground mine processes. "We have found a solution that will also impact future tire generation without the need for long-term storage," Promis explained.

For Neuvol, this initiative marks its first agreement with a large-scale mining company. Manuel Castillo, Deputy Operations Manager at Neuvol, said: "The management of end-of-life tires is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the industry. This agreement demonstrates that it is feasible to move from commitment to concrete measures, effectively integrating large-scale mining into the collective system." Rodolfo Poblete, General Manager of Neuvol, emphasized, "The agreement with Codelco is a very important signal for the entire system and the entire mining sector. It is not just about joining, but about taking action to achieve traceability, effective value-added processing, and a model that can be replicated in other sectors and companies. As a management system, this achievement reinforces Neuvol's commitment to the effective implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility Law (EPR Law) and the development of a circular economy nationwide."

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