Sapphire recovers 50 millionth tyre

Archiv – UK-based Sapphire Energy Recovery (SER) has reached an important milestone with the recovery of its 50 millionth tyre. UK-based Sapphire Energy Recovery (SER) has reached an important milestone with the recovery of its 50 millionth tyre. The company’s West Thurrock processing facility is now processing over one-fifth of all the tyres scrapped in the UK each year.
SER Sales and Marketing Manager Ryan Mifflin comments: ’Fifty million tyres represents a saving of more than three quarters of a million cubic metres of landfill space, enables tyre manufacturers to meet their producer responsibility obligations, and provides tyre change depots with a sustainable disposal route.’€™ Since the company was formed in 2001, it has invested more than £12 million in processing facilities in strategic UK conurbations and has developed a national network of tyre collectors. Sapphire also boasts EMAS and ISO 14001 accreditation.
According to SER, news of this landmark offers a timely boost for those involved with tyres. There was widespread panic, it says, when a ban on sending whole or shredded tyres to landfill came into effect on July 16 this year. But whereas the Wales Environment Trust had suggested that the Principality could be swamped by up to 26 000 used tyres, a more recent report from researchers at Oakdene Hollins suggests demand for tyres from companies such as SER could lead to a shortage next year. It predicted that demand would rise from 472 000 tonnes this year to 538 000 tonnes in 2009.