News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

For more than a decade, the European tire pyrolysis sector has lived with a paradox. Technically, pyrolysis (or pyrolysis) of end-of-life tires (ELTs) has demonstrated its ability to recover valuable hydrocarbons and return them to the chemical value chain. Legally, however, the main product – tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) – often remained burdened with the classification of “waste,” even when it was demonstrably used as a substitute for fossil feedstocks in petrochemical applications. This legal ambiguity has been one of the central barriers to industrial scale-up, financing, and long-term offtake agreements.

As reported by the European Ruber Journal, Farrel Pomini expanded its investment in UK-based waste tire pyrolysis specialist WF Recycle-Tech, securing majority ownership and strengthening ties between the two companies. The move marked a significant step in scaling pyrolysis-based tire recycling technologies globally.

As recently reported by ERJ, the British technology startup HiiROC entered into a memorandum of understanding with Tokyo Gas to explore the deployment of its thermal plasma electrolysis technology for the production of clean hydrogen and sustainable carbon black.

A recent report by NITI Aayog, Enhancing Circular Economy of Waste Tyres in India, outlines how India can transform its growing end-of-life tire (ELT) challenge into a strategic opportunity for circular economy development, resource security, and emissions reduction.

MC Pyrolysis introduced a continuous screw pyrolysis plant designed for the recycling of end-of-life tires and rubber waste, highlighting a reactor concept that had already been operating at industrial scale in China for several years. The system was developed around a 27-meter screw reactor intended to support continuous processing rather than batch operation, addressing some of the operational constraints traditionally associated with tire pyrolysis.

Russian authorities reported elevated levels of carcinogenic substances in several Chinese-made tires, triggering increased regulatory attention on imported rubber products and prompting changes to Russia’s environmental tax framework tied to tire chemical composition.

The Alliance for the Future of Tires (AZuR) has officially launched the LOOP THE TIRE 2026 startup competition, calling on innovators across Europe to rethink tires, close material loops, and help shape a sustainable future for the tire and tire recycling industry. Applications are now open, with a deadline of May 15, 2026.

Effective 1 January 2026, TOSHNIWAL Brothers (SR) Pvt. Ltd. became HITEC’s exclusive sales and service partner in India for its carbon black testing equipment range. This partnership marks a significant step in HITEC’s strategy to strengthen its leadership in the dynamic Indian market. TOSHNIWAL Brothers, headquartered in Bangalore, has a 75-year legacy of instrumentation sales and service excellence across key industrial sectors that align closely with HITEC’s portfolio, including carbon black manufacturing, Tires & Rubber, and the emerging Battery market.

The free-to-attend exhibition will feature hundreds of specialist suppliers showcasing the latest developments in materials, processing technology, testing and smart manufacturing. Exhibitors represent every stage of modern tire production, including sustainability and circular economy solutions, advanced compound and reinforcement materials, process machinery and automation, and quality control and digital factory systems. With this breadth of technologies under one roof, Tire Technology Expo provides tire OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and technical decision-makers with a unique opportunity to evaluate solutions, compare suppliers and engage directly with technology leaders shaping the future of tire manufacturing. Register here for a FREE visitor pass.