UK-based company BIG ATOM is introducing a new digital voucher system aimed at transforming how end-of-life tires are tracked, funded, and recycled. According to Tyre Trade News, the initiative is designed to bring long-missing clarity to the tire recycling process by ensuring each tire’s journey—from removal to processing—is fully documented and verifiable.

The system functions like a recycling gift card: one voucher covers the collection and processing of a single tire, with each step digitally logged. BIG ATOM expects to sell up to one million vouchers by the end of 2025, with tire manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers already expressing strong interest. Founder Alex Guslisty explained, “For too long, anecdotes have replaced real evidence when it comes to tire recycling. Our voucher model takes the guesswork out of what we think is the industry’s murkiest issue.”

Beyond vouchers, BIG ATOM is building a digital infrastructure to support a traceable and scalable tire recycling ecosystem across the UK. By linking each step of the process through digital signatures, the company aims to provide the consistent, transparent supply chains needed to attract investment into advanced recycling technologies such as pyrolysis.

Pyrolysis, a process that recovers valuable products such as oil, carbon black and steel from end-of-life tyres, has been touted as a game-changer for sustainability. But as Guslisty notes, it needs reliable domestic feedstock to succeed: “Pyrolysis tech works. That’s not the hurdle anymore. The gap is commercial, with companies getting the technology right but then stalling because the ecosystem is immature. Without organised feedstock, predictable logistics and bankable offtake, you can’t scale reliably. Our voucher system and contracting fix that by securing volumes and traceability so advanced recovery can finally scale.”

The company’s approach also aligns with upcoming UK waste management regulations, including DEFRA’s Digital Waste Tracking system set to take effect in 2026. BIG ATOM has already developed a fully compliant, API-based platform capable of meeting these new requirements, putting it ahead of most of the industry.

By combining digital transparency with responsible recovery practices, BIG ATOM seeks to create a model that could be replicated globally. As Guslisty notes, the company’s goal is to “replace grey areas with clear data” and build an industry where resource recovery from waste is more efficient than extraction from raw materials.

Read the full article on Tyre Trade News for more details about BIG ATOM’s initiative.