News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

With a decades-long reputation in the sustainable and environmental infrastructure sector, ECP has owned Liberty since April 2021 and along with Liberty's management team drove the transformation of Liberty into a national, vertically integrated tire management business. Liberty is the leading coast-to-coast tire recycling platform in North America, providing critical, compliant collection and recycling services through a network of more than 50 facilities nationwide. Each year, Liberty collects and processes over 215 million end-of-life tires, converting them into reusable materials that support industrial, commercial, and consumer markets. Liberty's innovative, sustainable tire-derived products play a vital role in advancing circular economy solutions.

AZuR's Christina Guth calls for a rethink in tyre recycling End-of-life tyres were presented not as waste, but as valuable secondary raw materials in the latest edition of the video series “66 seconds for the future” by forum future economy. In the video, Christina Guth, coordinator of AZuR (Allianz Zukunft Reifen), outlined how a well-functioning tyre circular economy could play a meaningful role in resource conservation, CO₂ reduction and the advancement of a genuine circular economy.

As 2026 begins, Fornnaxstands at a pivotal stage in its growth journey. Over the past few years, the company has built a strong foundation rooted in engineering excellence, innovation, and a firm commitment to sustainable recycling. The focus ahead is clear: to grow faster, stronger, and on a truly global scale. "Our 2026 strategy is driven by four key priorities," explains Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director & CEO of Fornnax.

Michlen's SmartWear and SmartLoad aimed to improve safety, reduce costs and keep vehicle data on board. Tires were increasingly joining the digital transformation of vehicles, and Michelin had positioned itself at the forefront with the launch of its new artificial intelligence-driven tire technology. At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Michelin was set to debut its SmartWear and SmartLoad systems, signalling a potential shift away from conventional tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

Dillingen, Saar / Hamburg, 9 January 2026 – Pyrum Innovations AG('Pyrum', ISIN: DE000A2G8ZX8) from Saarland and Hamburg-based Unitank Holding GmbH& Co. KG('UNITANK'), a leading operator of independent tank farms, signed a shareholder agreement to establish a joint venture. This partnership will lay the foundation for the construction of five to ten state-of-the-art recycling plants for end-of-life tyres in Europe in the coming years. Pyrum holds a 49% stake in the new joint venture, while UNITANK Group holds a 51% stake.

Auto body shop owner questioned Ontario's producer responsibility system amid mounting stockpiles. Hundreds of used tyres had accumulated on the small lot of Mike's Autobody & Tyre in Brechin, Ontario, after more than two months without collection, raising concerns about delays in the province's tyre recycling system. This was reported by Danielle Pitman, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter at Orillia Matters, on January 4, 2026. Michael O'Donnell, owner of the Ramara Township auto body and tyre shop and a registered eTracks Tire Management Systems collection site, said customers continued to drop off end-of-life tyres while scheduled collections failed to occur.

Transaction valued at approximately $701 million supported Goodyear's portfolio rationalisation strategy. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell the Dunlopbrand to Sumitomo Rubber Industries(SRI), covering trademarks and related intangible assets used for consumer, commercial and specialty tyres across Europe, North America and Oceania. The transaction followed Goodyear's previously disclosed strategic review of the Dunlop brand as part of its Goodyear Forward transformation programme. Under the terms of the agreement, Goodyear was to receive gross cash proceeds of approximately $701 million at closing, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The deal was expected to close by mid-2025.

Australia was increasingly being described as a destination for low-cost, poor-quality tyres as overseas regulations—particularly in Europe—tightened, according to industry experts and regulators (TSA). Concerns centred on safety, environmental impact and the downstream consequences for tyre waste management. Experts reported that budget tyres, often imported already fitted to new vehicles or sold as low-cost replacements, tended to wear out significantly faster than higher-quality alternatives. While cheaper at the point of sale, they were said to cost motorists more over time due to more frequent replacement. Faster wear also meant greater release of tyre particles into the environment, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)—chemicals of concern that are carcinogenic and harmful to ecosystems.

The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)has set out a new roadmap to enhance the sustainability and resilience of Kuwait's road infrastructure, endorsing 14 strategic recommendations following its forum “Sustainability of Roads in the State of Kuwait: Between the Challenges of the Past and the Prospects of the Future.” The initiative is expected to be of particular interest to regional tyre recycling and materials recovery stakeholders. The recommendations place scientific research, smart technologies and regulatory reform at the centre of future infrastructure planning. A key priority is intensified research into high-durability asphalt mixtures tailored to Kuwait's extreme climate, with the dual aim of extending road lifespans and reducing long-term maintenance costs.