Alcoa Australia has started delivering used conveyor belts from its mining operations to Tyrecycle’s recycling facility in East Rockingham, Western Australia. The first reel arrived on 24 September, marking a new step in the partnership between the two companies. At the facility, steel wire from the belts will be reclaimed and the rubber processed into crumb for use in applications such as road construction.

The initiative follows the 2024 launch of an ongoing contract for off-the-road (OTR) tyre recycling and is part of Alcoa’s efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste from its mining and refining activities. According to Nicole King, Alcoa Global Program Manager Water and Waste, approximately 32 km of used conveyor belt will be delivered to East Rockingham in the coming months.

"This new opportunity will allow us to recycle 80 reels of used conveyor belt in the initial program with Tyrecycle processing about 100 tonnes a week into crumb," King said. "That’s alongside more than 300 tonnes of our used OTR tyres a year."

Tyrecycle Head of Trading, Mining and Strategic Development, Ashley Battilana, explained that the company’s focus is on circular recycling solutions. “Initially we’ll produce rubber crumb, like we do with tyres, that can be repurposed into a broad range of applications such as polymers for bitumen, granules used in sporting and playground surfaces, adhesives and moulded rubber products. Our vision is to continue driving innovation so we can integrate recycled material into new conveyor belt manufacturing in the future.”

Since opening in May 2024, Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility has expanded to serve the mining sector by recycling tyres and rubber products, helping operators lower their environmental footprint. “We’re proud to work with Alcoa, jointly supporting jobs in the region and continuing to reduce impacts on the environment,” Battilana said.

Source: Tyrecycle.