News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

The Swedish Tyre Recycling Association – SDAB or Svensk Däckåtervinning AB – recently issued its annual report 2020 where it reflects upon what the greatest challenge for sustainability is and how to overcome it. In the press release, it stresses that humanity’s power to impact the ecosystem, an impact which is often more negative than positive, has led the Swedish Tyre Recycling Association to devote its Annual Report 2020 to this theme.

Episode 25 of the Tyre Recycling Podcast features the Director of the Recycling Committee of SLTC – Emanuel Bertalot. SLTC – Sociedad Lationamericana de Tecnología del Caucho – is the Latin American Society of Rubber Technology, it brings together professionals, academics and businessmen from the sector. With partners distributed all over the planet, an online magazine and dozens of conferences and courses throughout the region, we are committed to technological, entrepreneurial and management knowledge in the field of the rubber industry.

The Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) reports that as of July 1st the new Victorian Environment Protection Regulations (2021) are in force in Australia under the amended Environment Protection Act (2017). TSA together with Equilibrium and EPA Victoria have facilitated a webinar recording to help all interested parties navigate through the new requirements in the regulations. The webinar helps tire recycling-related businesses understand the laws that apply to them minimize risks of harm to the environment and human health.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) recently announced it would fund innovative ideas that utilize end-of-life tires. According to the organization’s recent press release, TSA has dedicated a special budget for funding such projects. The organization also says TSA’s Market Development Fund is now open for applications. The scope is broad; from research grants to funding prototypes, projects and initiatives, the goal is to transform passenger and truck tires into new and innovative markets.

Birla Carbon, one of the leading manufacturers of carbon black globally, has announced its intent to bring down its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. The announcement is seen as a natural progression in Birla Carbon’s leadership in the area of Sustainability and circularity. Birla Carbon recently announced the availability of Sustainable Carbonaceous Materials (SCM) through the launch of its ContinuaTM brand. Birla Carbon’s net zero announcement aligns with The Paris Agreement, signed as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate-change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. It also aligns with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Tire Industry Project SDG Roadmap aimed at addressing health and environmental impacts associated with the life cycle impact of tires towards a sustainable future. Within the Aditya Birla Group, Birla Carbon is collaborating with sister companies to develop decarbonization initiatives through the Aditya Birla Science and Technology Center.

Southampton City Council, and highways partner Balfour Beatty Living Places, are pioneering the use of Rubber Modified Asphalt to reduce the environmental impact of highways maintenance activities. Southampton City Council recently approved an additional £10m investment to resurface residential roads and pavements across the city – boosting investment to a record £22 million over the next two years. As part of this program the council and its highways partner, Balfour Beatty Living Places, is pioneering a new method for resurfacing which puts waste rubber that would have otherwise ended up in landfill to good use.

The European authorities have introduced the limits for the PAHs in the recycled rubber used in synthetic turf pitches, and its content must not exceed 20 mg/kg. If the limit is met, a playground or a field can be considered safe for children and sportsmen. The evaluation of all possible risks has been conducted by The Risk Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals Agency, (ECHA). According to ECHA, it was important to make this research as the rubber contains controversial and potentiallly harmful PAH particles. If within the limits, the rubber that is made out of recycled end-of-life tires is safe and not harmful to people who spend much time training and playing on the grounds that contain this type of recycled material.

PRISM™ – a recycled rubber and plastic innovation company based in Kirkland, WA, United States – reports that its first-of-its-kind process converts recycled tire rubber into fully functional, sustainable, like-new rubber, attracting $23.5 million in total capital investments since the company’s founding in 2019. The latest round of investment comes from Seattle-based Columbia Pacific Advisors and the Baty Family. The new investment will provide PRISM™ the capital to expand their operations as well as their research and development efforts. Based in Kirkland, Washington, PRISM™ Worldwide has developed a patented clean technology that converts 100% of end-of-life tires (ELT) into functional, sustainable, like-new rubber and plastic polymers. The resulting product is called PRISM Thermoplastic Rubber (PTR™) and is used in the manufacture of a number of rubber and plastic products. This unique process is the result of thirty years of research and refinement inspired by the path to sustainability in the circular supply chain.

Tyrecycle reports the company is excited to be included in the NSW Environmental Trust’s latest round of grants as part of the rollout of the Australian Federal Government’s Recycling Modernisation Fund. According to the recent social media statement, Tyrecycle has secured $2.9 million in funding for a $5.8 million expansion project at Erskine Park. This facility will provide the upgrade from 6 inch to 1.5 inch TDF, provide steel cleaning facilities, and introduce Off The Road (OTR) processing and debeading.