News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

In the episode, Hunter and Kirton discuss how Kirton’s interest in environmental conservation developed and how that background connects to his work in the tire recycling sector. The discussion also looks at the broader role of recycling programs in keeping end-of-life tires out of disposal routes and moving them into productive uses.

Having specialised in Eldan, Lindner and Vecoplan shredders for years across the European recycling industry, Mr Baur’s decision to partner with Fornnax is rooted in a sharp market observation. Mr. Baur has developed a deep understanding of what plant operators truly need from a machine and from the team behind it. When he came across Fornnax's reputation for robust construction, superior wear protection, and accessible maintenance design, the fit was immediately clear.

CTS reported that its municipal transfer station collection network included 23 active collection sites as of the June 2026 update. The presentation also listed seven sites receiving hauler assignments during the week of the meeting, three sites ready for the next assignment round and 11 sites finalizing agreements or registration. The organization said enrollment and registration are handled through a portal used to track collected tires and tonnage and to support compensation for haulers and processors.

Dickinson County Road Commission has worked with Michigan Technological University and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on research projects involving ground tire rubber modified asphalt since 2018. Officials said this work has helped the Road Commission build practical experience with the material and better understand how it performs in local road conditions.

In order to promote the sustainable development of road engineering, this study used waste tire rubber powder (RP) and surface organic layered double hydroxide (SOM-LDHs) to modify 70# matrix asphalt. The Box–Behnken design response surface method with three factors (rubber powder content, surface organic layered double hydroxide content, shear temperature) and three responses (penetration, ductility, softening point) was used to optimize the preparation parameters. The optimum formula was determined to be 21.7% rubber powder content, 4.8% surface organic layered double hydroxide content, and 160 °C shear temperature.

Several Ontario municipalities are limiting or stopping the acceptance of used tires at waste depots as tire stockpiles continue to grow and collection services fail to keep pace. The backlog has affected communities including Chatham-Kent, Wellington County, South Huron and the Region of Durham, where used tires are accumulating at municipal depots and creating operational, environmental and fire safety concerns. The situation has renewed scrutiny of Ontario’s tire recycling system, including the role of producer responsibility organizations, provincial recycling targets and proposed regulatory changes intended to improve the collection and management of end-of-life tires.

The partnership also includes joint corporate social responsibility activities beyond tire management. The companies plan to participate in the B-SAFE road safety awareness program in cooperation with the Saraburi Branch of the Department of Land Transport. They also plan to carry out nature and biodiversity conservation activities at Phu Khae Botanical Garden, connecting the agreement’s resource circulation goals with broader community and environmental initiatives.

The European Council has approved the EU end-of-life vehicle regulation, following a European Parliament vote earlier in June, meaning the legislation is now set to become law after publication in the Official Journal of the EU. The regulation introduces mandatory recycled plastic content targets for new vehicles and creates new rules for vehicle design, treatment of end-of-life vehicles, recycled material sourcing, exports and extended producer responsibility. The rules are expected to affect automotive manufacturers, recyclers, plastics suppliers and circular material producers, while also shaping future demand for recycled polymers and potentially influencing the role of tire-derived elastomers, pyrolysis oil and other recovered materials in the automotive value chain.

Genan, Inc., a large state-of-the-art processing facility in Houston, is a leader in tire recycling and recovery, with a focus on crumb rubber and micronized rubber. Genan specializes in producing rubber granules for technically demanding applications, including flooring, automotive parts, asphalt, as well as an industry-leading, patented technology for playground surfaces. Thomas Boehme of Genan will continue to lead growth efforts in the U.S. for Genan through a new role with Liberty.