News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Episode 21 of the Tyre Recycling Podcast features Jon Visaisouk from Canadian Tyromer – a successful devulcanization company who also expanded its operations to Europe

This March, BASF revealed its plans to use pyrolysis oil from recycled tires to manufacture outdoor pants. The new product line of the outdoor apparel company VAUDE which will be available in stores from March 2022, does not only stands out due to its timeless design, robust material and simple reparability – the pants are also sustainable, as chemically recycled endof-life tires are used as a raw material. With this innovation, BASF and VAUDE seek to make a contribution towards reducing waste and preserving valuable resources.

On March 10, 2021, Black Bear Carbon, the innovative company that recovers carbon black, oil and gas from end-of-life tire granulate, has announced in its press release its intention to build a factory at the Chemelot industrial park in Geleen. A previous factory in Nederweert, in a joint venture with tire recycler Kargro, was dismantled after a fire in February 2019. After an intensive period of two years, Black Bear Carbon is living up to its reputation as a technology pioneer with the development of a best-in-class factory in terms of process, safety and reliability. At the end of 2019, Black Bear Carbon announced that it was going to Rotterdam and made an energetic start towards that goal in 2020. In the course of 2020, timely realization of RCBNL turned out to be difficult to achieve due to the issue regarding nitrogen deposition rights. In close collaboration with Chemelot, the BBC has looked at the alternatives and decided to settle in the south of Limburg province.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) warns tire recycling and tire collection companies that dodgy overseas operators have caused approximately 100 shipping containers full of used tyres exported from Australia to Malaysia to be abandoned in Penang. The tyres have been abandoned on the Penang docks after a local Malaysian operator, with no verified processing operations, brought the containers into Malaysia. TSA says that the case highlights that tyre recyclers offering cheap deals need to be closely examined to make sure they can deliver what they promise, and that they are genuinely providing reliable, sustainable and environmentally sound recycling of tyres.

According to a press release by Newsfile Corp., Environmental Waste International Inc (EWS), announced that it has entered into an agreement today with Torreco Inc. ("Torreco"), a private Ontario corporation, whereby Torreco agrees to invest $7 million to convert EWS's pilot plant in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario into the Company's first commercial scale tire recycling plant utilizing EWS's patented microwave technology. EWS will retain a 30% ownership interest in the plant and receive a royalty in perpetuity on the revenue generated from the sale of valuable commodities produced from its environmentally friendly tire recycling process. The investment by Torreco is being made via common share purchases of Ellsin Environmental Ltd. ("Ellsin"), a wholly owned subsidiary of EWS, which owns the Company's waste tire facility in Sault Ste Marie including land, building and equipment. The $7 million will be used to expand and modernize the plant utilizing EWS's latest technology. In exchange for the investment in Ellsin, Torreco will also be granted the right to build three additional end-of-life tire recycling facilities in Ontario over the next five years if it meets certain conditions.

LSM.LV – a public broadcasting of Latvia – reported on March 21, 2021 that scientists at Riga Technical University (RTU) have been looking for a solution to pave Latvia's roads with rubberized asphalt made from recycled end-of-life tires. This summer, an experimental plot of a local highway could be paved with asphalt concrete containing rubber granules from recycled tires. Scientists from RTU have developed and tested several new recipes for bitumen, the glue that contains rubber powder which is further used in asphalt and concrete. Road builders typically add specific polymers to bitumen so that road surface is more resilient to cracks and pits.

India’s tax law portal TaxScan.in reported this March that The Maharashtra Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) declined from determining classification (HSN) of Tire Pyrolysis Oil and the tax rate applicable to it, by reason of non-submission of full details pertaining to composition of the impugned product by the applicant. The order was passed in an application filed by Royal Carbon Black Pvt.Ltd., an entity engaged in the recycling of used tires. The application was preferred under Sec.97 of the Central Goods and Services Act and Maharashtra Goods and Services Act, for adjudicating upon the classification (HSN) of Tire Pyrolysis oil and the tax rate applicable to it.

Dr. Valerie Shulman – the Secretary General at the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA) given a Lifetime Achievement Award in the inaugural Recircle Awards. Tyre & Rubber Recycling magazine involved in organization of Recircle Awards writes that Dr. Shulman has been involved in tire recycling for somewhat longer than she has held her role at ETRA, and in her lifetime in the sector Dr. Shulman has campaigned to raise awareness of tire recycling with governments across Europe, and of course with the European Commission. Dr Shulman, literally, wrote the book on tire recycling, coining many of the phrases and terminology in common use today. A larger-than-life character, Dr. Shulman is passionate about recycling like no other individual. This passion can be seen in her involvement in the ETRA conferences and seminars each year. An impressive lady who knows where she wants to see the industry develop.

On March 17, 2021, the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA)’s representatives met the EU’s Commissioner Thierry Breton and his team to present the vision and commitments of future tyre performance targets to deliver on Green Deal objectives. The tyre industry leaders had the opportunity to underline the role of the tire sector in creating a future with environmentally friendly, safe, efficient and accessible mobility for all. This meeting represents an important step toward the vision the tyre industry intends to support in the direction of delivering on the Green Deal targets.