News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

ANRPC pinpoints that despite the physical natural rubber markets posted a downward trend in price for the month of March 2021, the average prices of rubber have gained further from February 2021 with positive growth ranges 21.4% in STR-20 for Bangkok, 4.1% in SMR-20 for Kuala Lumpur, 3.2% in RSS-3 for Bangkok and 6.7% in RSS-4 for Kottayam market.

Over 240 professionals from all over the world attended ELDAN’s product presentation "Making Lives Easier for Tire Recyclers – the Secret Behind ELDAN’s Success" on April 14, 2021! The high participation shows that the tire recycling industry is concerned about the value of their tire recycling equipment and may be moving towards investment into a tire recycling technology.

According to the article by ABC News Australia, Gunnedah Basin mining giant Whitehaven Coal (WHC) is planning to bury hundreds of used heavy-machinery tires on its Tarrawonga Coal Mine site in north-west New South Wales. ABC reports that while the mine, located within the boundary of the Leard State Forest, is expected to close by 2028, WHC wants to bury some 730 tires on the site. Reportedly, it sits within the boundaries of the Leard State Forest and has been earmarked for revegetation. Landholders say it would be an offense if they did the same thing.

Episode 23 of the Tyre Recycling Podcast features the CEO of Scandinavian Enviro Systems (Enviro) – a Swedish tire pyrolysis operator and equipment supplier. Thomas Sörensson spoke about the collaboration with Michelin, Enviro’s strong position and potential in the market and the expansion plans ahead. Enviro is a Swedish award-winning tire pyrolysis operator and equipment supplier who recently entered a partnership agreement with Michelin.

According to several reports by Pakistan’s online newspaper Daily Times, these are illegal tire pyrolysis plants operating in the adjacent to Pakistan Indian province of Punjab. The newspaper says the pyrolysis plants extract oil from end-of-life tires despite the official regulations imposed by Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Reportedly, such tire pyrolysis plants are not only operating illegally near Lahore but have also become a major reason of air pollution in Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Faisalabad and other districts of the province. However, the majority of the plants are operating in Lahore and Gujranwala divisions.

The German online magazine “Recycling Magazine” reports about a new generation of asphalt that recycles 10 used tires into every ton of the road surfacing product. The product is being laid on Gold Coast streets in a world-first trial, the magazine says. The innovative rubberized asphalt which uses recycled end-of-life tires, known as Carbonmastic, developed by Australian companies Austek Asphalt Production and Pearl Global, could potentially lead to millions of tyres each year being redirected from landfill.

According to ETRMA, the green and digital transitions combined with the focus on competitiveness and resilience play a key role in the identified pathway for recovery published by ETRMA on 12 May 2020, when the sector asked to prioritize the initiatives to achieve climate neutrality and digital transition, and requested a supportive and reasonable timing to the overall changing regulatory framework. ETRMA welcomes the coherent approach between this Communication, the Green Deal and the EU COVID-19 recovery plan.

Genan – one of the largest end-of-life tire recycling companies in the world – announced that in March 2021 Thomas Ballegaard had joined the company’s team as Genan Group’s new CCO. Since March 1, 2021, Thomas has taken on the overall responsibility for European Sales as well as for global marketing and product management. Having worked as CCO for STARCO for 4 years from 2015 to 2019, Thomas has direct experience in the tire business – as well as with the responsibilities that come with the title as Chief Commercial Officer.

The European Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) reports that its Board of Directors met and agreed this April to welcome Nexen Tire Europe, as well as the Czech Republic and Slovakia Tyre Producers’ Associations as new members of the Association, as of 2022. The ETRMA will then represent 15 global tyre manufacturers and 11 national sector Associations. The Board also discussed and reaffirmed its strong commitment to the EU policy objective of a European economic recovery geared to meeting the Green deal ambitions, a digital Europe, and safer roads.