10
2021
Techtalks
Australian tyre recycling experts seek new frontiers
It’s time to expand to the European market,
says Australian tyre recycling technology expert
Green Distillation Technologies. The company
has developed technology to turn end of life tyres
(ELTs) into refinery-ready oil, carbon and steel.
GDT ceo Trevor Bayley is prompted by Fazi-
let Cinaralp, secretary general of the European
Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association
(ETRMA) who recently stated that only 42% of
the 12 million tonnes of ELTs generated in Europe
each year are recycled. ‘In addition, there is waning
interest in crumbing tyres for sporting field infill,
as well as a potential ban on this use and the fact
that we offer a much better and environmentally
sympathetic tyre recycling alternative,’ he says.
GDT is busy starting up its first two Australian
recycling facilities, one in western New South
Wales, another in southern Queensland. The
company has plans for five other plants and ‘is
in negotiations to finalise agreements’ for facili-
ties in the US, UK and South Africa. Each plant
will have a capacity to process 19 300 tonnes of
ELTs comprising a mix of passenger car, 4WD
and truck tyres.
Partners target new class of aircraft waste
ELG Carbon Fibre and Aerocircular NV have
joined forces to establish a closed-loop recycling
scheme for end-of-life aircraft carbon fibre waste
streams. The companies have signed a memo-
randum of understanding to demonstrate their
mutual commitment towards this initiative.
‘Today, composite carbon fibre fractions are
typically shredded and burned or landfilled,’
says Koen Staut, ceo of Aerocircular, based in
Belgium. The collaboration with ELG will real-
ise a ‘robust’ and economically viable recycling
flow on an industrial scale.
Every tonne of carbon fibre from the aircraft
that is transformed into new material saves 20
tonnes of global warming potential CO2 equiv-
alent with only 10% of the energy required to
produce virgin carbon fibre.
ELG’s managing director Frazer Barnes is confi-
dent this new class of recycled materials delivers
technical, economical as well as environmental
benefits. ‘By working with Aerocircular and
expanding our activities into post-consumer
waste from end-of-life aircraft, we are prepar-
ing to address the challenge that will be faced
when carbon fibre intensive structures reach the
end of their lives,’ he notes.
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