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This year’s TRA Briefing Day event will take place on Tuesday 16th September 2025
The annual TRA Briefing day will once again take place in September, this time at the Ardencote Hotel conveniently located in Warwickshire’s Shakespeare country, which has the capacity to accommodate ever increasing attendance numbers at the UK tyre recycling’s premier event.
The event is open to TRA members, the media and those involved in tyre recovery and recycling.
This year’s event should hopefully be bringing news about changes to legislation that had previously been proposed – such as the ending of the T8 (2017), and the changes to the Carriers, Brokers and Dealers regulations (2024), not to mention news perhaps of the delayed implementation of the digital waste tracking system.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia began to recycle tyres when the quantity of scrap tyres in the tyre cemeteries rose significantly during the past 20 years
The accumulation of these tyres posed a great danger to the environment, due to the difficulty of their decomposition and the possible fires and toxic emissions they may cause when disposed of in improper ways, stated Mrs. Sara the General Manager of the Rubber Futurerecycling factory in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the focus on sustainability and professional waste management has increased. Tyre recycling activity has become part of a national strategy aimed at reducing environmental pollution and promoting a circular economy.
Rubber Futures’ Play surface
“In 2017,” added Mrs. Sara, “the National Centre for Waste Management(MWAN) was established, which began to regulate the sector and opened the way for local and international investors to enter the recycling field.”
In 2020 specialised companies such as “SIRC” (Saudi Investment Recycling Company), began to expand their activity to manage industrial waste, including tyres.
Agreements were signed to establish modern factories capable of producing recycled rubber that can be used in infrastructure projects such as road paving and rubber asphalt manufacturing.
Tyre recycling techniques have developed in the Kingdom, to include shredding tyres and using them as alternative fuel in cement kilns and producing granular rubber that is used in many industries such as sports flooring.
Mrs. Sara explained; “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is paying increasing attention to the tyre recycling sector, as part of its efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and achieve the goals of Vision 2030. The Kingdom seeks to reduce the negative environmental impacts, resulting from the accumulation of damaged tyres by developing policies and projects that support their recycling, and use in innovative ways.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working seriously to develop effective policies and procedures for managing and recycling damaged tyres, with the aim of protecting the environment and achieving sustainability.
“By strengthening oversight, encouraging investment, and developing the necessary infrastructure, the Kingdom seeks to transform waste challenges into economic and environmental opportunities, clarified Mrs. Sara.
The factory is located in the Riyadh Alnargis area, twenty-three per cent of the area of the factory is occupied by the machinery line, while seventeen per cent of the area is for the tyre storage, the production line is completely imported from the United States of America, the line operates in six stages: The main shredder, wire free chip production, a granulator, colouring line and press moulds.
The tyres are cut in the first stage, the wire is separated in the second and third stages, and the powder is produced in the fourth stage.
Rubber Futures’ Shredding Operation
Answering a question about the production line, Mrs. Sara, explained that the production line is 99 per cent automatic, as the production lines are designed to minimise the need for human intervention in the production process.
Raw materials are placed in the production process by labourers, and the production line is being periodically maintained by technicians. The skills that are required for workers are quality, safety and electrical skills, Rubber Future plant technicians were trained to operate and maintain the machines by the machinery manufacturer for a period of one full month. All the production line is operated by electricity, except the colouring line, which is operated by natural gas.
“The factory is supplied with scrap tyres by suppliers and tyre workshop owners, who sort and deliver them, and then valorising the tyres suitable for use, provided that the tyre is not completely damaged, so that the extracted rubber can be used,” added Mrs.Sara. “The suppliers deliver the scrap tyres to our factory for the time being, but we have a plan to recruit and train scrap tyre collectors soon.”
The Additional materials needed by the production processes are the binder, the releasing agent and the colouring paint.
When asked about the final products, Mrs. Sara explained that they are rubber matting, which is used in horse stables and outdoor gardens; rubber granulate is used in stadium flooring, running tracks and small golf courses; rubber powder is used in asphalt and stadium flooring, Steel wires are used in counterweights.
Moving on to the sales and marketing process, Mrs. Sara explained; “The products are mainly sold locally, with market demand estimated at around 50,000 tonnes per year, and I can assure you that our products helped in minimizing importation, and in saving foreign currency for the Saudi economy.
When asked about the challenges that the factory faces, Mrs Sara summarised saying; “This activity suffers greatly from the tyre black market, as cut tyres are exported abroad. Government agencies (Export Authority – National Centre for Waste Management), made great efforts to prevent the export of these products, and began regulating this activity, because of its importance to the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, there is governmental support for the activity, such as customs exemptions and support from the Ministry of Industry for local factories. There is also special support from the Export Authority and the National Centre for Waste Management for regular activities with the necessary certificates and permits.
“The number of factories in Saudi Arabia is about seven,” added Mrs. Sara, but the Future Rubber plantis the only factory that produces rubber granules with a complete operational cycle, starting from grinding the damaged tyre through to forming it into rubber tiles.
Rubber Futures’ Bagging Plant
“We are also distinguished by the largest production capacity in the Kingdom, estimated at about 800 tons per month, also our production line being from American origin has made us unique. We are also proud of the quality of our products, which is considered the best among competitors.
As for future plans, Mrs. Sara mentioned that the Future Rubber Company also aims to expand the use of off-road tyres (OTR) with the aim of increasing production capacity.
“In light of the developments taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the great developments it seeks to achieve in various fields, especially the fields of environmental preservation and sports development, we see a bright future for the tyre recycling market,” added Mrs. Sara.” Especially since various institutions, such as MWAN– and the National Centre for Control of Environmental Compliance, seek to regulate all activities related to recycling and environmental preservation, which means that many local and international investors are heading to this sector.”
This goes hand in hand with the tremendous development in the sports sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where sports projects have grown in the previous period, and their growth has increased following the announcement of the Kingdom hosting the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2034 World Cup.
This does not diminish the interest of the Kingdom and the Ministry of Education in educational facilities and gaming facilities, residential development projects, the Riyadh Authority in the Green Riyadh project, and other government projects that are a rich market for the final products of recycling activity. The Kingdom is also currently considered an attractive market targeted by international investors, as it aims to be a regional market, which means opening up enormous new opportunities and markets.
FREEE Recycle, a Nigerian tyre recycling company, has unveiled its latest product—the ÀJÀLÁ Tote and Laptop Bags
The tyre waste crisis in Nigeria mirrors the global challenge. In 2017 alone, Nigeria generated 113,000 tons of waste tyres, with limited recycling solutions in place. However, companies like FREEE Recycle have innovative solutions.
FREEE Recycle has recently presented its new product: the ÀJÀLÁ Tote and Laptop Bags made from 80% recycled materials, turning waste into functional fashion. Named after the Yoruba word for “traveller,” the ÀJÀLÁ bags represent sustainability, transformation and movement.
Ifedolapo Runsewe, Founder of FREEE Recycle, who is also nominated for this year’s Recircle Awards in the Women’s Award for the Tyre Recycling Sector category, said: “At FREEE Recycle, we believe waste does not have to be the end of the road; it can be the start of something new. The ÀJÀLÁ bags prove that recycling can be both practical and stylish. We are giving old tyres a second life, tackling Nigeria’s waste problem and supporting a cleaner planet.”
ÀJÀLÁ bags are part of a larger commitment to sustainable waste management as the company aims to recycle over 5 million tyres annually, contributing to reducing pollution and sustainable manufacturing in Africa. Besides bags, recycling tyres can provide various products such as pyrolysis oil and rubber-modified asphalt, contributing to both the economy and the environment.
The LEGO Group revealed its latest sustainability initiative – new types of tyres made from more than one-third of recycled materials
LEGO cars and vehicles will soon have tyres made from ropes, engine oil and old fishing nets. The latest LEGO Group’s sustainability push will have a full transition later in 2025, with some sets already featuring new tyres.
Material from discarded ropes and nets from ocean vessels is repurposed and then combined with recycled engine oil to reduce the company’s reliance on virgin fossil fuel-based ingredients. LEGO will use the new techniques on seven tyre elements, each one containing at least 30 per cent recycled materials, with some already in action in its system. Despite this material change, the LEGO Group states there is no difference between the new tyres and the tyres we already know.
“This is an exciting step in our ambition to make LEGO products more sustainable and reduce our dependence on virgin fossil fuels,” said Chief Sustainability Officer Annette Stube. “Over the past five years, we have invested significant time in developing and testing this new recycled material to ensure it meets our high standards for quality, safety, and durability. The tyres are just one of many options we are working on to make our products more sustainable and it is encouraging to see something this innovative making it into our sets.”
Making tyres from recycled materials is part of an overarching goal to make LEGO bricks and packaging from more sustainable materials and comes after the company abandoned plans to make bricks from plastic bottles. To date, the company has tested more than 600 different materials for its bricks and elements.
New Zealand’s Tyrewise has hit the road with an amazing start, exceeding collection and recycling targets across the board
Tyrewise reports that thanks to its great teamwork and its partners, the new tyre stewardship scheme has been able to report considerably better results than had been targeted for the reporting period 1st September – 31st December 2024.
21,200 tonnes of end-of-life tyres were collected (target 8,000 tonnes)
7,749 tonnes of end-of-life tyres were used in tyre derived fuel and products (target 5,000 tonnes)
7,098 tonnes of this was used in manufacture (target 5,500 tonnes)
This marks a real turnaround from the pre-Tyrewise free for all that saw tyre dumps being relocated rather than recycling. It sets the ground for a successful tyre stewardship going forward.
The 21,200 tonnes collected might suggest that the target 8,000 tonnes was underestimated. However, with all the best intentions, no-one can be sure how any such project is going to proceed in its initial launch period. Tyrewise has been incredibly successful in getting the tyre trade to register for the process. This has undoubtably helped Tyrewisereach the success that it has.
There is currently a shortfall between the tyres collected and the tyres being recycled and the real challenge for Tyrewise, as it is for every stewardship/EPR scheme, is to convert collections into environmentally sound recycling.
The one benefit that Tyrewisehas is that as a non-tyre producing and island country, it has detailed knowledge of every tyre that enters the country legitimately. So, unlike many others, can work with figures that are closer to the reality.
Orion S.A. a global specialty chemicals company, has announced the European Commission has listed the company on its “Innovation Radar” website, which identifies high-potential innovators that have done EU-funded research
The recognition highlights Orion’sachievement as a “Key Innovator” for being the first company to produce circular carbon black from 100% pyrolysis oil from end-of-life tyres. The market-ready material serves as an alternative to carbon black made from fossil oil.
“Driving circularity is part of Orion’s long-term strategy,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said;. “Our customers are increasingly relying on us to provide solutions to meet the growing demand for circular products. We are scaling up our capabilities to process tire pyrolysis oil and have other innovations in our sustainability pipeline focused on cost-effective solutions.”
Orion developed the circular carbon black recognised by the Innovation Radar as a partner in the EU-funded BlackCycle project (Horizon 2020 program under grant agreement No: 869625).
The award-winning BlackCycle initiative was led by Michelin and included seven industrial partners and five research and technology organisations, with the objective to design pioneering processes to make new tires from end-of-life tires.
“Although the BlackCycle project has concluded, our innovation work continues with other initiatives with circular carbon black that involve reducing our carbon footprint, improving yield and throughput, and potentially lowering material costs,” said Natalia Scherbakoff, chief technology officer at Orion.
Last year, Orion launched its “Clean Carbon Black Research and Development Project,” funded with a €6.4 million grant from the German government and European Union. The project is focused on developing a climate-neutral process for producing carbon black from alternative carbon sources.
Pyrum expects the start of construction in the Czech Republic in the second quarter of 2025 with a target of an annual recycling capacity of up to 23,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres planned
The Czech companies SUAS GROUP and Sokolovská uhelná, in cooperation with Pyrumare planning to build a tyre recycling plant at their Vřesová complex.
The project results from the existing consulting and engineering contract between the companies, which was concluded with a subsidiary of the SUAS GROUP, and relates to the planned plant in the Czech Republic. The Czech companies plan to utilise the synergy effects on site and will integrate the gas produced during thermolysis into the existing plant for further utilisation. The planned plant will convert 23,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres into valuable resources every year. The planned investment volume is CZK 1.4 billion (approx. EUR 57 million).
“We are among the first companies in the world to utilise this innovative technology within our industrial complex in Vřesová. The site has the necessary infrastructure not only for the facility’s construction but also for utilising the gas produced during pyrolysis, which is rich in hydrogen and methane. The technology is extremely environmentally friendly, as confirmed by the recently completed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Among other benefits, the project as a whole, significantly reduces the carbon footprint—by more than 18,000 tons of CO₂ annually,” said Martin Čermák, Board Member of SUAS GROUP and Sokolovská uhelná.
David Najvar, Chairman of the Board of SUAS GROUP, emphasised the importance of the collaboration with Pyrum Innovations AG; “We greatly appreciate that Pyrum Innovations AG, the holder of this revolutionary patent with experience in similar projects across the EU, has become our partner. Together, we are fulfilling the vision of developing a circular economy and sustainability in handling specific types of waste and their disposal within our region and the Czech Republic.”
Construction of the new plant is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025 and is expected to take 24 months, with completion targeted for 2027. Pyrum Innovations AG and SUAS GROUP will establish a joint venture for the joint construction and operation of the plant. Pyrum will acquire a stake of 49 per cent in the company. Pyrum’s equity in the Project is covered by existing loan framework agreements.
Pascal Klein, CEO of Pyrum Innovations AG added; “The collaboration with the SUAS GROUP represents further progress for the development of the circular economy in Europe. This project demonstrates the high adaptability of our technology. Thanks to the efficient use of the gas on site, the end-of-life tyres can be almost completely recycled. Even though each site has individual potentials and designs, the core of our technology remains constant. We are looking forward on a very successful partnership and to the next phase of our collaboration, realising the joint plant at the new site.”
How do you describe a thirty-year, and ever-evolving, business in tyre recycling? SDAB decided to present what can be achieved rather than what has passed through the ages
SDAB Celebrates 40 years with a publication about tyre recycling
Swedish Tyre Recycling ( SDAB )was founded as an organisation in 1994, with operational collection beginning in January 1995. This means that tyre recycling in Sweden has now been in operation for 30 years—an anniversary we are celebrating in part by launching a special edition book. The book is a tribute to recycled tyre materials and a way to showcase the countless possibilities they offer—in an entirely new format.
With its visually rich and easy-to-browse design, the book resembles a coffee table book and represents a step in our journey of change. Through this book, we introduce recycled tyre materials in a new context to a new audience. We hope its unexpected format will surprise and spark curiosity in the reader. We invite you to explore the potential of tyres beyond the wheel—a potential realised in new products and solutions, often in surprising ways. Be inspired by innovative ideas, fresh perspectives, and thought-provoking discussions.
From April 23 to 26, 2025, TNU will attend IFEMA Madrid will host a new edition of Motortec, the benchmark event for the automotive aftermarket in Spain
At this prominent forum, TNU (Tratamiento Neumáticos Usados) will present its traveling exhibition “Recycle and Smile“, an initiative that seeks to raise awareness about the importance of recycling used tires and their positive impact on the environment and society.
Transforming waste into resources As a key player in the circular economy, TNUrecycles 100 per cent of tyre components (rubber, steel and textile fiber), giving them a new life in innovative applications. These recycled materials become essential products such as:
• Fuel and energy.
• Safety tiles for playgrounds.
• Artificial grass and athletics tracks.
• Footwear, hoses, roads and guardrails, among others.
Commitment to sustainability In a world where the preservation of natural resources and the energy transition are priorities, recycling used tyres is positioned as an eco-efficient solution that contributes to reducing waste and saving energy.
The “Recycle and Smile” exhibition aims to raise awareness among visitors about the transformative power of recycling and its role in building a more sustainable and environmentally friendly economic model.
Since its launch, this exhibition has toured various cities in Spain, raising awareness among thousands of people about the importance of recycling as a key tool in the fight against climate change.
During Motortec, TNU invites attendees to visit its stand to discover:
• The recycling process for used tyres.
• The multiple applications of recovered materials.
• The positive impact of recycling on society and the environment.
“Recycle and Smile” is a unique experience that demonstrates how recycling tyres can make a significant difference in environmental sustainability and industrial innovation, transforming waste into resources.
Tana Oy, the Finnish environmental technology company and Covema SACIF have signed a distribution agreement to offer TANA recycling machines and landfill compactors to customers in Argentina
With this collaboration, Tana Oy strengthens its presence in South America, bringing its innovative waste management solutions to a broader audience. By combining Tana’s expertise in high-performance recycling and landfill equipment with Covema SACIF’s deep market knowledge and customer-focused approach, this partnership is set to drive efficiency, sustainability, and value for businesses across Argentina.
For over 52 years, Covema SACIF has been a trusted partner in the construction and maintenance of infrastructure across Argentina. Committed to both people and the environment, Covema SACIF delivers cutting-edge equipment and high-quality products that contribute to sustainable development. The company also offers tailored financing solutions and an extensive after-sales service network, reinforcing its commitment to safety, quality, and the long-term sustainability of Argentina’s infrastructure.
