News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

Two years ago, a severe drought hit the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality on the southern coast of South Africa. Reservoirs were nearly empty, pushing the population of 1.3 million close to “day zero” when water stops flowing from the taps. The region is home to an Orion S.A. facility that produces carbon black – an essential material for the country’s tire industry. The crisis inspired Orion to find a solution that would help the municipality conserve its precious water supply.

On July 30, 2024, Pyrum Innovations AG (Pyrum) and Continental signed a framework agreement for the long-term purchase of Pyrum’s recovered Carbon Black (rCB). The agreement covers the rCB purchase quantities for at least two Pyrum plants, with a term of ten years. Continental will also supply Pyrum with end-of-life tires. In addition, Continental has agreed to make an advance payment for future rCB deliveries.

According to Rubber News, there's a troubling trend in the tire recycling industry: in 2013, 96% of end-of-life tires were recycled, but by 2021, this dropped to 71%. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) will release its 2023 scrap tire study soon, expecting a slight increase from 2021. However, tens of millions of tires still end up in landfills or are illegally dumped each year.

Canadian mining company Teck is advancing its environmental efforts by recycling industrial waste to enhance paved surfaces and reduce waste. A pilot project at Teck's Trail Operations and Neptune Terminals in British Columbia is exploring the use of recycled rubber from haul truck tires in asphalt. This initiative aims to divert thousands of tonnes of waste tires from landfills and improve road quality.

According to a recent press release by Ecolomondo, the company completed a non-brokered private placement, raising C$506,660.04 through the sale of 2,814,778 units at C$0.18 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one warrant, allowing the purchase of an additional share at C$0.24 within two years. This financing, combined with a $3 million loan from Export Development Canada, will support the development and expansion of Ecolomondo's Thermal Decomposition Process technology and facilities.

In Casalmaggiore, Italy, known for its historic connection to the Po River, a team of entrepreneurs has developed a fully mobile recycling system for end-of-life turf. Presented by All Sports Recycled on June 4th, this unique wet separation technology effectively cleans and separates sand and crumb rubber, ensuring high circularity and cost efficiency.

The LIFE SILENT project focuses on sustainable solutions to reduce noise emissions from road and rail traffic in urban areas. Traditional noise barriers often disrupt urban aesthetics and airflow, causing discomfort for residents. Thus, the European Commission advocates for noise mitigation at the source, such as low-noise pavements.

Smithers announced the inaugural Recovered Carbon Black (rCB) Conference in Asia, set for September 24-25, 2024, in Qingdao, China, and online. Following the success in Europe, this event brings critical commercial discussions on rCB to Asia, amidst China's dual carbon goals and global sustainability efforts. For everyone interested in the conference, Smithers and Weibold have prepared a special PROMO CODE “RCBASIA202410”, which gives a special 10% discount. To register for the conference and use the promo code, please proceed to the event’s website and enter the code in the end of your registration.

In response to an inquiry from Tyre and Rubber Recycling, DeFRA provided an update on their plans for waste tyre management. The department confirmed that the Labour government intends to reform the waste exemptions system, including the removal of the T8 exemption. This initiative aligns with the new Secretary of State's goal of developing a roadmap toward a zero-waste economy, which aims to enhance resource efficiency and cut down on emissions and waste.