News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), recently released its report “Natural Rubber Trends & Statistics, October- November 2020”. The ANRPC says the world production of natural rubber (NR) fell by 8.5%, year-over-year, to 10.098 million tons during Jan-Oct 2020. Expecting a 10.8%, year-over-year, drop during Nov-Dec 2020, the production during the full year 2020 is expected at 12.597 million tons, down 9.0% from the previous year. ANRPC’s revised outlook represents a downward revision by 304,000 tons or 2.2 percentage points from the outlook for 2020 which ANRPC had reported in September 2020. The outlook reported in Sep 2020 was 12.901 million tons at 6.8% fall. In 2021, the world production is anticipated to recover by posting an 8.6% increase to 13.678 million tons. Even if it increases at the anticipated 8.6% rate, the output in 2021 will remain lower than that in 2019 (13.842 million tons) or 2018 (13. 839 million tons).

Renowned Danish manufacturer of tire recycling equipment, ELDAN Recycling A/S, has developed a new sensor-based system to detect foreign objects in tire shreds and reduce the risk of breakdowns and yearly down time of its tire shredders. The ELDAN Foreign Object Detection (FOD) system consists of a sensor system monitoring the vibrating discharge conveyor following the ELDAN Super Chopper. Changes in acceleration from dense objects hitting the surface are picked up by the FOD system, which will stop the material flow of the plant and give off a warning signal. It is then easy for the operator to search through the material on the vibrating discharge conveyor, find and remove the foreign object, and continue production without further problems.

In December 2020, the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation – the umbrella organisation for European Recycling Industries – published a brochure on mechanical tire recycling highlighting the organization’s contribution towards circular economy and climate neutrality. EuRIC Brochure presents key facts about mechanical end-of-life tire recycling, which is a major enabler of circularity and climate mitigation for the entire tire value chain. The Brochure describes the current state of play of ELT management with recommendations to overcome key challenges faced by the European mechanical tire recycling industry be them embedded in legislation, market failures or eco-design. It features key numbers outlining the economic importance of the ELT recycling sector as well as its benefits for the environment and society.

9 News reports that a tyre recycling factory in Perth has been destroyed by fire, with firefighters battling flames as high as 20 metres to extinguish the blaze. The incident happened on December 4, 2020. The Elan tyre recycling facility in Welshpool caught ablaze sometime before 3.30am today, with the fire quickly finding a 1000L fuel tank inside the building. According to 9 News, the cause of the blaze is currently unknown, as no employees were inside and no machinery was operating.

Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) – British end-of-life tire management authority – reports that in response to the growing interest in tyre pyrolysis in the UK and beyond, the TRA is to launch a sub-group of interested members to address a number of matters of common importance. The aim of the new group which will hold its first scoping meeting in January 2021 will be to consider pyrolysis in the context of the current regulatory environment as well as barriers and opportunities in the areas of product and market development.

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), in partnership with The Ray – a nonprofit proving ground for sustainable transportation technologies – recently announced a research project to assess and compile existing research on the performance, environmental impacts and benefits of using ground tire rubber (GTR) in asphalt. The news was reported by an online magazine “The Published Reporter.” According to the source, the compiled research will result in a state of knowledge report that outlines existing research and identifies data gaps in the use of ground tire rubber in rubber modified asphalt.

In its recent semi-annual report, the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) announced updated guidelines for the development of rubber industry for the next five years. The guidelines, among others, set goals for rubber recycling and material recovery from end-of-life rubber and tires. Some of the goals related to end-of-life tire rubber and carbon black are described below: Carbon black Annual production by 2025: -6.08 million tons of carbon black -1.75 million tons white carbon black Other goals: -Energy consumption standards met by 80% companies; exhaust cogeneration employed at 90% companies

Ecolomondo Corporation (TSX-V: ECM) (the “Company” or “Ecolomondo”) releases its unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes hereto and its related management discussion & analysis (“MD&A”) for the interim period ended September 30, 2020 (the “Interim Financial Statements”). Ecolomondo says that during the period, it made considerable progress on the construction of its new Hawkesbury Thermal Decomposition (“TDP”) turnkey facility. Management estimates that construction of the building that will house the plant is about 90% complete and expects completion by the end of 2020. Installation of the plant equipment began in late August of 2020 and is proceeding according to schedule while commissioning is now scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2021.

The Recircle Awards recently unveiled nominees for its 2021 award ceremony and the platform is urging innovators and circular economy contributors to vote! The website of Recircle Awards lists the following categories: Best Tread Rubber Supplier Best Retreading Equipment & Accessory Supplier Best Tyre Recycling Industry Supplier Best Casing & Tyre Disposal Services Provider Best Tyre Derived Recycled Product Best Retreading Industry Innovation Best Tyre Recycling Innovation Retread Industry Fleet Award Best Publicity Campaign Employee of the Year Business Innovation Award Best Tyre Retreader Best Tyre Recycler Best Company Director Among the best tyre recycling suppliers selected for the Recicle Awards, there are: ECO Green Equipment E-Cova srl Eldan Molinari Salvadori To learn more about the nominees and vote, please proceed to the website of Recircle Awards.