News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) revealed in its new report on the NR trends observed in March this year that the global manufacturing dropped slightly over 5 percent. In overall, the production of NR was estimated at 2.989 million tons. This declining trend was attributed to cold weather and predominantly low rubber prices set in a number of countries by agrarians. Moreover, the report mentioned leaf fall disease that targeted South Sumatra alleging that this could have negatively impacted the NR production.

In his opinion to Financial Mail, an environmental consultant Sithembiso Malusi Mahlaba expressed concern with South African authorities’ ways of handling waste tires. He shared his views that the government wasn’t taking the environmental matters seriously and it was high time for the officials to reconsider their approach and start favoring circular economy “before it’s not too late”.

A tire landfill in Montana owned by Michael and Magdalena Adkins is expecting an Environmental Impact Statement soon that may allow their facility in Paradise Valley to store 280,000 tons of scrap tires and function for two decades. This is not the first time the Adkins make an effort to introduce a facility of this kind; some years ago, they received the license from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for similar project, but it was put on pause in court as the judge ruled that DEQ had to make a more careful environmental evaluation. It is anticipated that this year’s impact statement would consider more environmental details.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is providing funds to organize waste tire drop-off events in over 60 communities across the state that would take place both in urban and rural areas. These events are expected to help locals recycle their scrap tires in an affordable and easy way. It will be possible to create tire collection sites operating for a year and roadside pickups.

A British company Rosehill Security will start providing its security molded goods from recycled tires, including hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers, Ballistic Blocks and Rapid and Impakt Defenders to the US market after it signed a deal with ARX Perimeters (ARX). The production of Rapid and Impakt Defenders relies on recycled tire rubber, and uses polyurethane to get extra strength. The product can be used in almost all types of surfaces, ranging from roads to stadiums. It is also possible to apply them in combination with mobile perimeter and high-security fence systems – this would secure boosted protection.

After the news about the protest went viral on social media, the Department of Environment and the district Land Office decided to take measures. Their representatives went to the plant to negotiate with the facility’s owner. However, he refused to open the door. Shortly after that, the authorities informed police about the incident and cut the lock to the gate to be able to enter the plant, according to Health, Environment, Cooperatives and Consumerism committee chairman S. Veerapan.

Funding of $4,000 for scrap tire recycling and clearance has now become available to Kentucky counties thanks to the local authority Waste Tire Trust Fund. Gary Logsdon who manages the program explained that the funding will not be provided to cover labor and equipment costs, but it will help cover expenses for actual tire recycling and clearance of scrap tires.

Spanish waste managing agency Signus has presented its new green badge T – it will be provided to Spanish tire recyclers that comply with the group’s environmental standards. Currently, over 850 tire workshops have been granted this honorable badge – this indicates that the organizations have already met Signus’s requirements that have been established so the broader environmental goals are met.

Recovered carbon black producer Pyrolyx AG is ready to set a second pyrolysis facility which will be constructed in Terre Haute, US. This move comes after the company relocated its main office from German Munich to Terre Haute, Indiana. One pyrolysis plant has already been built in the US by Pyrolyx; the company says that the next facility will be very similar to the US-based tire pyrolysis plant.