News: Tire Recycling & Pyrolysis

At the beginning of the year, ARJES – recycling equipment manufacturer from Germany – announced a new partnership with the Spanish company Hispano Japonesa de Maquinaria (HJM). With more than 20 years of experience in the sector, HJM is a well-established and respected player in the market. As ARJES’ exclusive sales and service partner in Spain, HJM stands for stability, reliability and a clear, value-driven corporate philosophy. Its family-oriented approach, in which employees and customers are regarded as part of one large family, closely aligns with ARJES’ own corporate values.

The tyres, which had accumulated over several years, posed a significant environmental and public health risk, with potential impacts on soil, water, and local communities. Despite challenging terrain, the site was cleared within days using company resources and in full compliance with safety and environmental regulations. All collected tyres are set to be recycled in line with technical standards.

Launched in 2023 as the first open, searchable platform dedicated to tyre recycling research, ELTRP brings together international studies covering both material performance and the environmental and health impacts of recycled tyre applications. With a growing database now exceeding 600 research articles, the platform has become an increasingly important resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals.

As recovered carbon black (rCB) gains importance as a key output from tire pyrolysis, Netzsch Group is positioning its technology to support producers in upgrading pyrolysis char into high-performance materials. In Episode 90 of the Tyre and Rubber Recycling Podcast, Andreas Steinlage, Senior Business Development Manager at Netzsch, outlined how the company’s grinding, classification, and processing systems are increasingly being deployed across the tire recycling value chain.

The Rubberized Asphalt Foundation (RAF) has strengthened its position as a global driver of sustainable infrastructure by acting as a strategic partner at the Georgia Rubberized Asphalt Summit (GRAS 2026), held in Tbilisi. Hosted by Tegeta Green Planet in collaboration with Wasteless, the event brought together policymakers, engineers, and industry leaders to accelerate adoption of rubberized asphalt in emerging markets, particularly across the Caucasus.

Revenue for the financial year 2025, based on preliminary, unaudited figures, rose to EUR 4,103 thousand, doubling compared to the previous year (2024: EUR 2,022 thousand). This includes revenue from consulting services in the amount of EUR 2,000 thousand. Due to the lack of revenue from ThermoTireBlack (TTB®) in the fourth quarter, the full-​year forecast of EUR 4,500 thousand to EUR 6,000 thousand could not be achieved. Own work capitalized amounted to EUR 6,158 EUR (2024: EUR 8,994 thousand). The decline results from the largely completed commissioning work on a significant portion of the plant expansion in Dillingen.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has welcomed the findings of a major study by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which concludes that crumb rubber infill used in synthetic turf fields is unlikely to pose health risks to users. The comprehensive assessment found no evidence of significant cancer risk or other health concerns, including for young athletes, based on currently available data. The findings align with a broader body of research that has consistently indicated crumb rubber is safe for use in sports fields.

With just 4 weeks to go, the event has confirmed participation from industry players including Goodyear, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, Greif-Velox, PCBL Chemical, Arvos Group, Epsilon, Michelin, Linglong Tire, BKT, Doright, Hanwa Trading, and others across the value chain, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and industry networking.

The European tyre recycling sector is set to convene at the 31st ETRA Conference, taking place from March 24–26, 2026, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers to address the future of circularity in tyre management. Organised by the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA), the event will focus on market development, regulatory trends, and emerging applications for tyre-derived materials.