The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and the Used Tyres and Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration to support the development of sustainable end-of-life tire management and recycling systems in Nigeria. Signed in Toronto after the Nigeria-Canada ELT Circularity Workshop, the agreement establishes a framework for cooperation, knowledge sharing and capacity building between the two organizations. The partnership will draw on Canada’s experience with producer-funded tire recycling programs, collection networks, processing infrastructure, end-market development and regulatory oversight. It also aims to help Nigerian stakeholders strengthen collection systems, improve compliance, develop recycling infrastructure and advance circular economy solutions for end-of-life tires.

Agreement signed after Nigeria-Canada workshop

The Memorandum of Collaboration was signed by Carol Hochu, President and CEO of TRAC, and Dr. Uche Ibeh, CEO of UT-PRON. The signing took place in the presence of Professor Innocent Barikor, Director General and CEO of Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, following the Nigeria-Canada ELT Circularity Workshop in Toronto.

The workshop was attended by representatives from NESREA, UT-PRON, TRAC, government officials and industry stakeholders from both countries. It provided a forum for discussion on producer responsibility, tire recycling, regulatory systems and resource recovery.

Canada’s tire stewardship experience shared

The workshop gave Nigerian participants an overview of Canada’s extended and individual producer responsibility frameworks for end-of-life tires. It also covered regulatory oversight, collection systems, processing infrastructure, market development and lessons learned from decades of tire recycling and resource recovery across Canada.

Canada is recognized for producer-funded end-of-life tire management programs that have developed over more than three decades. These systems support tire collection, recycling and end-market development, helping recovered tire materials move into circular economy applications.

Delegation visited crumb rubber processing facility

As part of the visit, the Nigerian delegation toured the CRM of Canada Processing ULC facility in Brantford, Ontario. The facility is described by TRAC as one of North America’s leading crumb rubber processing operations.

Participants observed how end-of-life tires are processed into value-added recycled rubber products. Applications include rubber-modified asphalt, molded and extruded rubber products, and infill for synthetic turf.

Partnership focuses on capacity building

The collaboration is intended to strengthen technical cooperation and support the exchange of knowledge and best practices. Areas of focus include producer responsibility, end-of-life tire management, recycling infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement and circular economy principles.

TRAC said the partnership is designed to support UT-PRON and Nigerian stakeholders as they work to build a sustainable ELT management system. The association said knowledge exchange and practical lessons from Canada’s experience can help support resource recovery and market development.

UT-PRON highlights local adaptation

Dr. Uche Ibeh said the agreement is an important milestone in Nigeria’s effort to build an effective and locally appropriate tire circularity framework. He said the collaboration provides an opportunity to learn from Canada’s experience while developing solutions suited to Nigeria’s needs and circumstances.

According to UT-PRON, the knowledge gained through the partnership can help strengthen collection systems, improve regulatory compliance, support recycling infrastructure and advance circular economy principles in Nigeria.

NESREA welcomes international cooperation

Professor Innocent Barikor welcomed the collaboration and recognized the role of international partnerships in supporting extended producer responsibility and environmentally sound resource management.

The workshop and Memorandum of Collaboration show a shared commitment by TRAC, UT-PRON and NESREA to improve institutional capacity and promote responsible tire recovery and recycling. The initiative may support Nigeria’s efforts to move end-of-life tires into organized collection, crumb rubber production, rubber recycling and other circular economy applications.

Article source: TRAC.