A new pilot project at one of Europe’s largest wastewater treatment plants in Paris is investigating whether existing wastewater treatment processes can help remove tyre and road wear particles (TRWP) before they enter the environment
The Tire Industry Project (TIP), in partnership with the Greater Paris Sanitation Authority (SIAAP) and sustainability consultancy ERM, has launched the study at SIAAP’s Valenton wastewater treatment plant near Paris, France, which is the second-largest wastewater treatment plant in Europe and is considered representative of modern municipal treatment systems.
The project aims to address a key knowledge gap around how TRWP behave during wastewater treatment. In many urban areas, rainwater and road runoff are collected and treated before being discharged into rivers and waterways, but there is currently limited real-world data showing how effectively these systems capture tyre-derived particles.
Throughout 2026, researchers will collect samples from different stages of the treatment process and analyse them using advanced techniques, including pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS). The study will assess the quantity of TRWP removed across the full treatment cycle and provide evidence on whether wastewater management can contribute to reducing their release into the environment.
The pilot represents the first real-world evaluation of one of nine priority mitigation measures identified in TIP’s 2024 white paper, Commitment to Addressing Tire and Road Wear Particles. The report reviewed more than 50 potential approaches to reducing TRWP through prevention, containment and removal, while highlighting the need for further field-based testing.
Larisa Kryachkova, Executive Director at TIP, said the project marks an important move from laboratory research towards practical evidence: “This pilot is an important step in going beyond understanding the subject in the laboratory to field-based evidence.”
Sabrina Guérin, Head of Innovation at SIAAP, added that the study will provide valuable insight into TRWP movement through wastewater systems and help inform future treatment planning.
Results from the project are expected to be submitted for scientific peer review, with publication anticipated in early 2027. The findings could help shape future strategies for managing tyre wear particles and support wider efforts to develop science-based environmental solutions.
