News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

The UK government has announced it will remove the T8 exemption, which currently allows mechanical treatment of end-of-life tyres without a permit, as part of broader reforms to the waste exemption regime under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Welsh Government say the move is designed to curb illegal waste activity and improve environmental protection.

Pirelli has launched the first standard production tyre for the global market made with over 70% bio-based and recycled materials, including FSC™ (Forest Stewardship Council™) -certified natural rubber. This certification attests to the responsible management of the natural rubber supply chain, from plantation to factory. By 2026, all natural rubber used in Pirelli's European factories will be FSC™-certified.

Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA) has released its Strategy 2025–2028, setting out a national framework aimed at unlocking the circular value of Australia’s end-of-life tyres. Recognising the complexity of challenges facing circular economy efforts, the strategy emphasises the importance of coordinated action across the entire tyre value chain—including industry, government, and the wider community.

The Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan (TSS) has signed an agreement with Ontario-based Emterra Tire Recycling Ltd. to develop a tire recycling facility near Saskatoon, making it the designated processor for northern Saskatchewan. The facility is expected to begin accepting scrap tires by mid-2026.

The Tire Recycling Foundation is thrilled to announce the 10th Tire Recycling Conference is heading to Denver, Colorado, May 12–14, 2026! The 2026 conference will take place at the Grand Hyatt Denver, Colorado. Registration opens soon.

According to a recent press release by Ecore International, the company has acquired HTI Recycling, a prominent tire collection, recycling, reuse, and crumb rubber manufacturing business based in Lockport, New York. The acquisition also includes HTI’s subsidiaries, Edge Rubber Recycling and D&G Heavy Equipment Leasing.

Sime Motors, one of Asia Pacific’s leading automotive companies, has announced the launch of a zero-waste tyre recycling programme in collaboration with Evergreen Corporate Sdn Bhd. Starting July 1, 2025, the initiative will be implemented across all Sime Motors dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia.

Steelmaker SSAB Alabama, in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), has successfully completed a trial using crumb rubber from recycled tires as a substitute for petroleum coke in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking.

Harmonised EU-wide End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria for rubber derived from End-of-Life Tyres (ELTs) are essential to strengthen Europe’s tyre recycling market. Together with the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA), EuRIC emphasizes that the absence of harmonised EoW criteria poses significant challenges for the industry, hindering the trade and uptake of recycled tyre materials across borders.