News: Weibold Academy

For years, discarded tires have posed a serious environmental dilemma. Their resilience makes it challenging to break them down while burning them releases harmful pollutants. Researchers have increasingly turned to pyrolysis, a thermal process that transforms waste tires into valuable products such as pyrolysis oil, recovered carbon black (rCB), and gas. Over the past 20 years, interest in tire pyrolysis has surged dramatically. A recent analysis of more than 1,400 studies published between 2000 and 2024 shows that research in this field has accelerated, particularly since 2016. Countries like China and India have emerged as major contributors, driven by growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable waste management solutions. Scientists are primarily focused on refining pyrolysis techniques to improve efficiency, enhance product quality, and scale up for industrial applications.

We are proud to share that Weibold Academy has been shortlisted for the 2025 Recircle Awards in the Tyre Industry Education Award category! This nomination recognizes our commitment to providing high-quality education and expertise in tire recycling, pyrolysis, and circular economy solutions. We are honored to be acknowledged alongside other industry leaders who are shaping the future of sustainable tire management.

A research team from the School of Chemical & Process Engineering at the University of Leeds, UK, has published a comprehensive study in the Journal of the Energy Institute (Volume 118, 2025) on the thermal decomposition of end-of-life tires (ELT) and plastics. The study investigates the potential of co-pyrolysis, a process that thermally decomposes mixed materials under oxygen-free conditions, to enhance the production of valuable products such as oil (TPO), gas, and char (raw rCB). Utilizing a laboratory-scale batch reactor, the researchers focused on a 1:1 mass ratio of tire and plastic feedstocks, examining the synergistic effects of decomposition and their impact on product quality and yield.

JANUARY 2024: Global circularity must be doubled by 2032. The Circularity Gap Report 2024 reveals a decline in global circularity to 7.2%, emphasizing the urgent need for transformative action. Excessive material consumption drives environmental harm and inequality, with high-income nations disproportionately responsible. The report outlines 16 solutions across key sectors to reduce material use by 30% while improving well-being.

As millions of tires reach the end of their usable lives each year, their disposal poses significant environmental challenges. Durable and non-biodegradable end-of-life tires (ELTs) contribute to growing landfill volumes, create fire risks, and release toxins when improperly handled. Tire pyrolysis, a process that thermally decomposes tires in an oxygen-free environment to recover valuable materials, offers a promising solution to this problem. However, in an industry facing scrutiny from regulators, investors, and consumers, proving this process's environmental and economic benefits is crucial. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has emerged as a critical tool for tire pyrolysis companies to evaluate their impact, identify efficiencies, and build credibility.

The tire waste recycling industry is transforming after 25 years of gradual progress. Traditionally, recycling focuses on mechanical processes to separate and recover rubber, steel, and fiber from End-of-Life Tires (ELTs), with applications developed for products like sports turf, civil engineering, mats, and even fuel for cement kilns.

In a world grappling with environmental challenges, finding ways to recycle and repurpose materials has never been more critical. At the heart of this movement is recovered carbon black (rCB), an innovative material derived from end-of-life tires (ELTs) through pyrolysis. This promising material offers a pathway to sustainable, high-value applications that can help reshape industries ranging from energy to environmental remediation.

End-of-life tires (ELTs) represent a significant environmental challenge globally, with over 1 billion tires produced and discarded each year. Their durability and complex composition, which includes a mix of rubber compounds, metals, textiles, and fillers, make them particularly difficult to recycle. Traditional disposal methods like incineration and landfilling not only fail to recover valuable materials but also contribute to environmental degradation. As the world seeks more sustainable recycling practices, pyrolysis—a process of thermal decomposition in an inert atmosphere—has emerged as a promising alternative. This method allows for the recovery of valuable products such as recovered carbon black (rCB) and tire pyrolysis oil (TPO), including limonene, a solvent derived from the degradation of rubber components. However, achieving consistent, high-quality outputs through pyrolysis requires careful control of both feedstock characteristics and process parameters.

End-of-life tires represent a significant global waste problem. Their robust structural and chemical properties pose challenges for traditional recycling methods. With 1.5 billion tires manufactured annually, the environmental impact is substantial, with each tire contributing approximately 300 kg of CO2 emissions. The increase in tire production, driven by the rise of electric vehicles, underscores the urgency for effective recycling strategies. Waste tires are not only difficult to dispose of but also pose environmental hazards when dumped or incinerated. Traditional disposal methods like open dumping and incineration lead to issues such as fire hazards, mosquito breeding grounds, and the release of harmful pollutants.