News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Ecolomondo Corporation announced that it had reached an agreement in principle for financing of $2.7 million with Export Development Canada (EDC) to support additional capital investments and working capital at its Hawkesbury Thermal Decomposition Process (TDP) facility. The financing was intended to support the ramp-up of operations at the Hawkesbury plant. Ecolomondo and EDC had been in negotiations for several months and agreed in principle on loan conditions designed to ensure sufficient liquidity to reach full operational capacity.

The European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA) has announced the call for papers for its 31st Annual Conference on Tyre Recycling, which will take place from 24–26 March 2026 in Brussels. The conference theme, "Tyre Recycling: Is the Future Circular?", will explore industry priorities and the expanding opportunities for recycled tyre materials in both established and emerging markets. The programme will examine how the sector is evolving amid shifting EU policy dynamics and broader economic and industrial pressures.

The Synthetic Turf Council (STC) has announced a call for educational session proposals for the 2026 STC Annual Conference, with the submission deadline extended to 23 January 2026. The conference will take place from 26–28 October 2026 at the InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. The STC Annual Conference is the organisation’s flagship event, bringing together hundreds of professionals from across the synthetic turf sector to exchange knowledge, research findings and practical experience. The programme is designed to support informed discussion on the role of synthetic turf systems in communities, schools and public spaces.

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.