Estimates of waste tyres produced in Italy during 1988 run about 180,000 tonnes, 102 of which were to be disposed of. Noting that each waste tyre represents a substantial source of energy (36 MJ), this paper surveys the recently developed processes of pyrolysis from which liquid fuels or solvents can be derived, in addition to carbon residue fuels, and also examines promising processes of combustion. The results obtained with the latter indicate that combustion offers the best solution in terms of both economy and pollution abatement.