Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) wants to find new markets for products made out of scrap tire rubber by collaborating with innovative manufacturers. The body has already set up its Market Development Fund that provides assistance to local entrepreneurs. Since the Fund’s launch that took place four years ago, over 30 projects have received financial support.

To further help scrap tire markets development, TSA recognizes that more research is required, as well as funding streams. Currently, TSA provides funding in two streams – via the Project Stream and Scholarship Stream.

Today, Australia recycles some 10 percent out of over 55 million scrap tires, and the remaining tires go for overseas export, or are dumped in an unsanctioned way. TSA believes that businesses should see an opportunity in this challenge and become more “innovative and environmentally aware” by using waste to create valuable tire-derived products.

Lomwest Enterprises is one of the state businesses that works with scrap tires and advances circular economy. Originally, the business functioned as a scrap tire collector. However, the owner Cliff Strahan decided to find a better application for tires. His company came up with the C4M walling system – the innovative method that houses the tire bales within two skins of concrete for domestic use. The system can be applied for “retaining walls, sound barriers, seabed erosion protection walls, and even as blast and impact barriers,” according to the company’s owner.

Some other businesses that promote circular economy use waste tires in road surfacing projects, for sound barriers, soil retention, equine tracks and permeable paving. By advancing these application, the entrepreneurs add value to the circular economy, create new markets and prevent scrap tires from being dumped.

In 2014, TSA was established to manage Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme that seeks promotion of the development of solid markets for products made with scrap tires.

Article by Manufacturers’ Monthly.