Efforts are underway in the European Union to reduce waste generation and introduce a circular economy. On 1 January 2025, separate collection of textile waste was introduced. Discarded textiles can be used as fuel, but this solution is limited because the combustion plant must meet technological requirements and emission standards. Another option is the pyrolysis process. It is classified as a recovery method and is ranked higher than the combustion process in the waste management hierarchy. A promising opportunity is the co-pyrolysis of discarded textiles with used car tires in operating plants.
The effect of the addition of cotton and polyester to car tires on the properties of co-pyrolysis products were investigated. The addition of textiles led to a decrease in char yield and a significant decrease in oil yield, along with an increase in the volume of gases released. The yields of by-products in the form of water fraction and deposits increased with the addition of both cotton and polyester. The addition of textiles resulted in an improvement in the quality of chars as fuel (a decrease in the ash and sulfur content and an increase in the calorific value), but the sorption properties deteriorated. Textile addition caused a decrease in the calorific value of the oil, but a decrease in the sulfur content was also observed. The calorific value of the gaseous products also decreased significantly. The benefit of using cotton was the introduction of biogenic carbon into products, which can contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions.