We have a tyre problem...
According to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)’s Tire Industry Project1, around one billion tyres reach the end of their useful service life every year globally. Sadly, a significant portion of these tyres are disposed of irresponsibly - either landfilled or burned in the open air.
A typical tire involves dozens of different components made from more than 100 primary raw materials. Raw materials that ultimately end up in our soil or atmosphere without proper End of Life Tyre (ELT) management.
Further contributing to the ELT crisis are broader challenges: Educational, Environmental and Economical.
Educational
We have a duty to inform consumers and organisations about sustainable ELT disposal options. The lack of awareness relating in particular to thermal conversion is a significant barrier to progress.
Environmental
Without appropriate domestic disposal options for the 55 million waste tyres generated annually in the UK, there is significant risk posed to our environment via fly-tipping or burning.
Economical
Four high-value resources can be recovered from ELTs and sold to customers looking to improve their own process circularity:
Steel (c10%), Gas (c15%), Carbon (c35%) and Oil (c40%)