News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

A press release by Greater Wellington Regional Council from November 4, 2021 says Kevin Anderson and his company Combined Projects (2016) Limited have been convicted and fined for the illegal disposal of waste tires at a Castlepoint property in Wairarapa. Greater Wellington Regional Council laid four charges against Mr Anderson and his company in 2019 for offending that occurred early that year. This included breaching an abatement notice issued by the council to stop further illegal disposal of tires.

Roads & Infrastructure Australia – an online magazine devoted to pavement systems and construction in the country – recently highlighted that Australia’s waste problem has been improving with recycled road construction – rubberized asphalt from recycled tires in particular. In an article from November 4, the magazine writes: “Recycled road base uses a range of different materials to create an alternative asphalt mix. These materials can include: crushed concrete, recycled asphalt, plastic bags, recycled plastics, printer waste toner and cartridges, glass, and crumb rubber (recycled end-of-life tires).

Ecolomondo – a Canadian end-of-life tire pyrolysis company – reports in its press release that the new agreement will provide 30,000+ tons of tire feedstock and $3.4 million tipping and handling revenue to Hawkesbury recycling facility as it prepares for lunch. Ecolomondo Corporation is a cleantech company commercializing its proprietary Thermal Decomposition Process (“TDP”) recycling technology and turnkey TDP facilities used to transform tires, plastics and other hydrocarbon waste streams into saleable renewable commodities. Ecolomondo is pleased to announce it has entered into a long-term supply agreement (the “Agreement”) with Recyc-Quebec to have over 31,000 short tons of end-of-life-tire (ELT) feedstock (approximately 80% passenger tires / 20% truck tires) delivered to the Company’s flagship Hawkesbury TDP recycling facility.

In its press release from November 4, Tyrewise – a company researching and designing solutions for end-of-life tire management – says that Illegally stored stockpiles of end-of-life tires on fire or tires dumped in waterways will become a thing of the past for Aotearoa New Zealand as the Government announces the final step in the creation of a New Zealand-first solution for end-of-life tires and the proposed regulation that will be required to ensure everyone plays their part. This came on November 4, 2021 as New Zealand’s Environment Minister David Parker announced the accreditation of the Tyrewise regulated product stewardship scheme – the first regulated stewardship scheme to be accredited in New Zealand.

Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum), a pioneer in the sustainable recycling of end-of-life tires based on its patented pyrolysis technology, has begun expanding the production capacity of its pyrolysis plant at the company's headquarters in Dillingen/Saar. As of October 2021, the plant consists of one production line, which has been operating on an industrial scale since May 2020, producing pyrolysis oil, recovered carbon black (rCB) and pyrolysis gas from more than 7,000 tons of end-of-life tires during this period. The addition of two more production lines will triple processing capacity to approximately 20,000 tons of end-of-life tires per year. Excavation work for the foundations has already begun on the plant site. In addition, key components of the new plants have been ordered on a binding basis.

Western Rubber Products of Delta had recycled its 100 millionth end-of-life tire in British Columbia, just as Canada kicked off the 20th annual Waste Reduction Week. The company is a division Liberty Tire Recycling; according to its recent statement, it is the largest recycler of end-of-life tires in British Columbia, and since 1989 the company has been the province’s primary collector and recycler of used tires under Tire Stewardship B.C.

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) recently releasedd the Natural Rubber Trends, September 2021. ANRPC’s outlook for world natural rubber (NR) has been revised downward as member governments updated its figures for 2021. According to the Association, the lower growth anticipated in world production at 1.4% amounting to 13.787 million tons; while the world demand expects 8.9% growth to 14.116 million tonnes during 2021. Some downward adjustments made by member governments in their latest estimates. ANRPC says despite the positive market fundamental in the NR market, the prices of NR in physical and futures market have been bearish in September 2021 as compared to previous month. The average of FOB price in block rubber market have posted a contraction of 5% in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur market. While price deviation between RSS-3 in Bangkok and RSS-4 in Kottayam has reduced from US$0.60 per kg to US$0.52 per kg towards the end of the month. Both markets also posted a lower average price during this same reference period.

Dedicated to the Waste Reduction Week in Canada this October, Kal Tire – the renown global mining and OTR tire manufacturer – told how the company facilitates recyclability of its products. According to Kal Tire, its Canadian mining customers can recycle their end-of-life tires through the company’s partnership with Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC. Kal tire highlights that giant mining tires can weigh over 5 metric tons and contain high quality steel and rubber which can be recycled and repurposed. After being shredded, the rubber crumb, mulch and recycled steel can be converted into landscaping mulch and molded rubber products such as gym floors, fencing products, rubberized bricks and more.

UK’s Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) says it endorses the move by the Australian government to prohibit the export of most unprocessed end-of-life tires from December 2021. The only exception will be casings suitable for retreading or validated reuse. Peter Taylor OBE, Secretary General of the TRA has urged DEFRA Secretary of state George Eustice MP to closely study this change in Australian law and consider whether the UK should follow a similar path. He went on: