News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

The tire waste recycling industry is transforming after 25 years of gradual progress. Traditionally, recycling focuses on mechanical processes to separate and recover rubber, steel, and fiber from End-of-Life Tires (ELTs), with applications developed for products like sports turf, civil engineering, mats, and even fuel for cement kilns.

The EU has chosen Bolder Industries’ end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis project as one of 85 initiatives to receive grants under its €4.8-billion net-zero fund, supporting the deployment of clean technologies across Europe. The project, known as NextGen thermal tire re-use, is part of the Port of Antwerp’s NextGen District and aligns with the EU’s goals to reduce emissions and advance industrial decarbonization.

Pyrum Innovations AG has completed its first MaxCap test, running at full capacity at its new plant in Dillingen/Saar. Between September 27 and October 4, the TAD 3 line was gradually brought to 100% throughput, maintaining peak operation for a week. While solid output met 100% capacity, oil and gas production reached 95% due to a quench pump blockage, an issue mitigated in future tests by using a reserve pump.

Environmental company Ragn-Sells and technology developer Inrigo are launching a joint venture focused on recovering raw materials from used tyres, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil resources in manufacturing. Leveraging advanced pyrolysis technology, the initiative can break down rubber in old tyres, creating raw materials that tyre producers can use as an alternative to virgin oil and for applications such as asphalt.

Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. is doubling its rubber recycling capacity at the Morimachi Plant in central Japan to accelerate the recycling of rubber used in automobiles. While progress is being made in the recycling of resources such as steel and plastic in the automobile industry, the recycling of rubber products is difficult and almost all rubber waste is incinerated (utilization of heat). Toyoda Gosei began operations of its first recycling line in FY2021, using its proprietary devulcanization technology that can recycle rubber products into high quality raw materials. The company has been reusing the waste material generated in the production of products.

The workshop "Rubberised Asphalt in Europe: Between Myths and Reality" will explore the benefits, challenges, and adoption barriers of rubberized asphalt in urban areas, where high traffic contributes to substantial asphalt wear. The event will focus on the technical and environmental benefits of recycled rubber in road construction, discussing how this approach can enhance road durability, reduce waste, and lower emissions.

Shercom Industries, a Saskatoon-based tire recycler in operation since 1993, has announced the layoff of 79 employees, attributing the decision to market pressures and changes in Saskatchewan’s tire recycling program. Shercom, which turns used tires into rubber products like tiles, curb ramps, and mats, has been affected by Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan’s (TSS) decision to redirect end-of-life tires outside the province, impacting the company’s long-standing operations.

The Rosehill Modular Drainage System (MDS) recently demonstrated its capacity to withstand extreme conditions, passing a rigorous test simulating a 1-in-1000 year storm. This performance highlights the MDS’s effectiveness in managing severe weather impacts, reinforcing Rosehill’s commitment to sustainable, high-performance drainage solutions.

The Traction Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina, brought together key players in the tire and automotive industries to discuss sustainable mobility and the journey toward net-zero emissions. Michelin shared its target to achieve net-zero scope 1 and 2 emissions and develop fully recyclable tires by 2050, while Continental aims for 40% sustainable tire content by 2030, moving to 100% by 2050. Presenters highlighted that Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the U.S. is expected to advance as the need for tire recycling solutions grows.