News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB (Enviro) – a tyre pyrolysis operator and equipment supplier from Sweden – has submitted an application for a construction permit through the property owner, Fratera, for the planned recycling plant in Uddevalla, Sweden. The construction permit application pertains to the previously announced recycling plant that the company plans to establish on an industrial site in the Lillesjö district of Uddevalla Municipality.

On the 20th of September 2022, Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum), a pioneer in the sustainable recycling of end-of-life tyres (ELT) based on its patented pyrolysis technology, and UNITANK Betriebs- und Verwaltungs GmbH (UNITANK), an operator of tank terminals, intend to jointly build and operate pyrolysis plants as part of a joint venture. The two companies agreed on this matter in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). According to the MoU, a total of up to ten pyrolysis plants for recycling ELT is to be built in the EU by 2030. The first plant is to be constructed in Germany. Pyrum and UNITANK want to make a final decision on the exact location by the end of the current year. The final investment decision is to be made in 2023, with commercial operation of the first plant starting 24 months later, i.e. probably towards the end of 2025.

Episode 37 of the Tyre Recycling Podcast run by Ewan Scott – chief editor of Tyre and Rubber Recycling Magazine – is devoted to tire pyrolysis. The guest is the CEO of Poland-based Contec, Krzysztof Wróblewski. In the new Episode, Ewan Scott quizzed Krzysztof on all things Contec from their plans for business development to supply chain difficulties to even what type of input material they process whether it be full tyres or shredded tyres.

EuRIC – a European organization connecting recyclers with European policy makers – warns the dramatic increase in energy prices pose a substantial challenge to the European recycling industries. Major European recycling companies, including SMEs, have already significantly reduced or entirely suspended production. In these exceptional circumstances, the sector is urging policymakers to enact immediate financial aid to prevent significant long-term damage to European recycling.

Alliance for Tires of the Future (German "Allianz Zukunft Reifen or AZuR) and its network coordinator Christina Guth have set themselves the goal of no less than a tenfold increase in car tire retreads and an increase in truck tire retreads of over 40 percent over the next five years.

An online magazine sportsfields.info focused on technology and business aspects of synthetic turf fields recently published an article criticising EU's decision to ban crumb rubber infill in artificial turf. Indeed, this month's announcement by the European Commission that it will recommend a ban on the sale of polymeric infill within six years and ignore the difference so-called risk management measures can make, has been met with disbelief and outright anger by some organisations in the industry.

Tyre and Road Wear Particles (TRWP) are tiny debris which are formed during normal driving conditions from the friction between the tyre and the road necessary to ensure sufficient grip and safety. Because of their size and composition, these particles are commonly associated with microplastics; yet the generation of TRWP is influenced by a variety of external factors including, but not limited to, tyre design, such as vehicle characteristics, road surface, weather, road topology and driving behaviour.

One of the first tire manufacturers in China to start recycling, reusing, and repurposing tires is ZC Rubber. In order to perform rubber recycling and reuse tires, the company created its Recycling Technology and Service Center in 2005, which marked the beginning of its tire recycling adventure. To forward their goals for tire recycling, ZC Rubber formally created Zhongce Recycling Technology Co., Ltd in 2009.

CTS Tyre Recycling from Western Australia has marked the beginning of a major change towards sustainability in the company's history. CTS had a great turn out at its ground breaking ceremony the 12th August with State Environment Minister Reece Whitby MLA and federal MP Josh Wilson in attendance.