TIP launches Paris pilot to test wastewater treatment for tire wear particles

The Tire Industry Project (TIP) has initiated a pilot study at the Valenton wastewater treatment plant near Paris, one of Europe’s largest facilities, to evaluate how effectively treatment plants can remove tire and road wear particles (TRWP) from wastewater. Conducted in partnership with the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority (SIAAP) and sustainability consultancy ERM, the project marks TIP’s first real-world test of one of nine priority mitigation measures outlined in its 2024 white paper on addressing TRWP. The study aims to fill critical gaps in evidence regarding the removal efficiency of TRWP before treated water is released into rivers and other waterways. Over the next 18 months, researchers will collect and analyze samples at key stages of the treatment process using advanced laboratory techniques, including pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS), to quantify TRWP removal rates. The findings are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal by early 2027. TIP emphasizes that TRWP research remains a complex and evolving field due to variations in particle characteristics, environmental pathways, and analytical methods. While the organization has prioritized nine mitigation strategies—focusing on prevention, containment, and removal—none have yet been validated under real-world conditions. Larisa Kryachkova, TIP’s executive director, highlighted the pilot’s significance in transitioning from lab-based understanding to field-based evidence, with the goal of identifying best practices applicable beyond the project. Sabrina Guerin, head of innovation at SIAAP, noted that the project would provide an early, science-based perspective on TRWP movement in solid waste. SIAAP operates six wastewater treatment plants in the Paris region, processing approximately 2.5 million cubic meters of wastewater daily for over 9 million people.