News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

On January 15, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) started accepting applications for grants from the state’s Tire Environmental Act Program (TEAP). The grants are to fund projects that create or expand beneficial uses for end-of-life tires. Such projects include tire recycling and processing, using materials such as aggregate that are derived from tires, initiating research and development in tire management, using tires for alternative fuels, or promoting innovation in infrastructure.

On March 19 – 21, 2024, Robert Weibold – the founder and managing director of Weibold – will attend the Tire Technology Expo 2024 in Hannover. Tire Technology Expo Conference brings together leading industry figures for three days of presentations, discussions and networking on the latest developments in tire manufacturing, scientific advances, sustainability and the global tire business.

The Schwalbe Recycling System has won the Innovators Prize at Eurobike. In the Service & Service Solutions category, Schwalbe's innovative and holistic recycling system for used bicycle tires beat out a total of 17 other entries.

Pyrum Innovations AG – a pioneering company that sustainably recycles used tires with its globally patented, unique pyrolysis technology – continues to consistently pursue its growth course. At the beginning of January, a wholly owned subsidiary “Pyrum GreenFactory II GmbH” was founded to operate the second Pyrum plant in Saarland.

Britain faces an environmental assault from the illegal disposal of end-of-life tyres as the impact of the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping comes home to roost. With 75% of the UK’s waste tyres heading to the Indian subcontinent via the Red Sea route, the UK government rightly condemns Houthi attacks against commercial shipping, yet at the same time, it is failing to address the environmental concerns that arise from this situation, warns the Tyre Recovery Association.

Andrew Meurer has joined Liberty Tire Recycling as its President and Chief Commercial Officer, bringing over 12 years of experience from Michelin, where he served as Vice President of Sales for the North American Passenger Tire Division. Prior to Michelin, Meurer worked at Procter and Gamble (P&G) and Kimberly-Clark. In his new role, Meurer will lead Liberty's initiatives to collaborate with tire manufacturers and retailers in developing sustainable solutions for end-of-life tires. The focus is on cost-effective solutions and better end markets aligned with the sustainability goals of industry players.

Lina Goodman, CEO of Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), expresses frustration over the lack of progress in tyre recycling initiatives. Despite efforts to get industry associations, retailers, and auto brands on board, there's still resistance, and the recycling rate for used car, bus, and truck tyres has dropped from 90% in 2019-20 to 80% in the past year. TSA faces challenges with freeloaders and illegal dumping, impacting legitimate recyclers. Goodman emphasizes the need for regulatory support to address these issues, urging all tyre importers to contribute to a recycling scheme and preventing businesses from engaging with rogue operators.

Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) announced that it has been selected for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), a globally recognized sustainability index, for two years in a row and for the fifth time in total. In addition, the Company has been selected for the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific), which is comprised of companies located in the Asia Pacific region, for 14 consecutive years.

Liberty Tire Recycling is setting its sights on 2030 as it enters the new year, working towards achieving its Zero Waste Goal. A pivotal strategy in reaching this milestone involves the development of sustainable products to ensure the beneficial reuse of all components derived from the tires collected, including rubber, steel, and fiber. In the year 2022, Liberty Tire actively participated in a project aimed at assessing the potential utilization of fibers from end-of-life tires to enhance rubberized asphalt. The introduction of recycled tire fiber into the company's SmartMIX™ product demonstrated a remarkable 43% improvement in strengthening and reinforcing the mix, effectively mitigating cracking.