Balaji Kothandan, Managing Director of Powerol Advanced Materials, took part in a key industry discussion on tyre recycling and circularity at the 13th Edition of the India Material Recycling Conference (IMRC) 2026 in Jaipur
Speaking during the “Driving Circularity in the Tyre Ecosystem” session, Kothandan joined fellow industry representatives to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance and the commercial viability of recovered carbon black (rCB).
The panel explored how evolving regulations and market dynamics are shaping the future of tyre recycling in India. Discussions also focused on the role of different technologies in supporting a more circular tyre lifecycle, with Kothandan, together with Vishesh Agarwal, Chairman of AIRTRA and Ankit Choudhary, Director of AIRTRA, emphasising that both continuous and batch pyrolysis systems have an important role to play in recovering valuable materials.
A key theme throughout the session was the transition of end-of-life tyres from waste to resource. Drawing on Powerol’s operational experience in developing rCB and tyre pyrolysis oil (TPO) facilities, Kothandan highlighted that high-quality material recovery is not only environmentally beneficial but also commercially viable.
Kothandan’s participation at IMRC 2026 reflects Powerol Advanced Materials’ ongoing involvement in advancing circular economy solutions and contributing to the broader dialogue on sustainable resource recovery in the tyre industry.
Image source: Powerol Advanced Materials’ LinkedIn
