News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Commenting on the removal process of 500,000 scrap tires, Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said that approximately 10 weeks would be required to complete the clean-up. After the removal, tires will end up at tire recycling plant Tyrerecycle in Melbourne where they will be shredded into crumb rubber and rubber powder or converted into tire-dervied fuel.

Annually, New Zealand generates 5 million scrap tires and the biggest part of them end up at landfills or as waste export. To solve the problem, a company Eneform has developed a low emissions system that has the recycling capacity of 1.5 million scrap tires per year. Currently, the firm seeks expansion within the country and wants to upgrade its recycling capacity up to 5 million tires per annum. To develop its new system, Eneform relied on traditional pyrolisys and transformed it so the company could run a cost-efficient tire recycling plant. Southern Cross Engineering, Petrotec and Hineuru Holdings helped Eneform develop the innovative tire recycling facility.

The USTMA along with other organizations such as Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC) identifies itself as an advocate for sustainability promoting environmental protection, economic and social development. The association has repeatedly emphasized that it is attempting to advance and support sustainability, including tire recycling practices. This goal was voiced once again by Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO during 2018 Rubber Recycling Symposium – the event sponsored by the USTMA, TRAC and its subsidiary eTracks Tire Management Systems.

The possible expansion of end-of-life tire collection and recycling centers in Ireland which previously anchored silage pit covers has been discussed by International Fertilizer Association (IFA) President Joe Healy and new minister in charge of environmental regulation Sean Canney. Following Canney’s visit to Anthenry-based center in November, IFA president stressed that the minister witnessed its successful functioning and recognized that almost 800 farmers provided the recycling facility with more than 1,200 tons of tires on a single day.

Starting from January 1, 2019, new scrap tire legislation will come into force in Canada’s Ontario. However, the regional authorities are now concerned that not all tire producers are aware of new laws, thus they won’t be able to comply with them. The new legislation outlining expanded recycling duties of tire producers, the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, comes after it was passed two years ago, and it will replace local Waste Diversion Act and Ontario Tire Stewardship. The former managed to successfully implement waste control strategies and find markets for end-of-life tires, stressed John Armiento of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

The plant is expected to produce materials that will be used in road development and surfacing projects. In addition, it will be used for patios and gardens. Furthermore, the materials can be transformed into energy source, asphalt, playground mats, flooring, molded products and more. This comes after the Ministry of Health released its findings that only 15 percent of all imported tires are properly handled each year after they reach the end-of-life phase. The data was alarming as outdoors tires could lead to increased cases of diseases, including dengue fever, disseminated by mosquitos who often breed inside dumped tires. Therefore, the company vowed to take all necessary preventive measures.

The nationwide program managed to receive over 4,200 tons of scrap tires of various sizes brought by over 2,000 farmers at special tire collection points that operated four days. During the collection days, farmers could recycle over 300 car tires for only 45 euros, whereas the commercial rate stands at 500 euros. The offer was of immense appeal to the farmers, and, on average, each farmer managed to hand in approximately 220 tires.

The Foundation of Environmental Management, the company in charge of an anti-dumping initiative in Russia, announced that the Russian Federation has commenced a plan aiming to liquidate illegal dumps of automobile tires in the country. Nokian Tyres serves as an organizer of the plan that seeks to get rid of pollution that illegally dumped tires create. To remove the biggest unsanctioned tire dump, Nokian Eco Challenge will assist the operators of the project.

The move comes after the Austrian firm earlier presented its innovative way of tire recycling that seeks to recycle rubber from tires into solid carbon, also known as recovered carbon black. Alternatively, the method allows getting a hydrocarbon mixture like pyrolysis oil and gas. Apart from commercial application of recycled products, the process is of value as it is totally in line with circular economy’s principles and it does not require external energy sources.