Having collected over four million end-of-life tyres since 1 September last year, Tyrewise is focused on growing the potential for recycled rubber materials in products for the New Zealand market – particularly in construction and infrastructure.
‘The scheme has a target of 80 per cent of tyres recycled and repurposed into other useful products within Aotearoa New Zealand by its fourth year of operation, and over 90 per cent by its sixth year,’ says Adele Rose, CEO of 3R Group, Tyrewise Scheme Managers.
Advancing the market for recycled rubber in roading applications is a priority area for the Tyrewise Products and End Markets Technical Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Jeremy Wu of WSP.
One initiative underway is a workshop focused on the opportunity and benefits to this market. Attendees will hear insights from industry pioneer and keynote speaker Barry Takallou. His company, Crumb Rubber Manufacturers, is a key supplier of recycled rubber across North America – including to Caltrans, which manages California’s freeways and highways, where there are over 22,000 lane miles of rubberised asphalt roads. Australia‑based workshop attendees will also share their experiences of recycled rubber in roading.
A call for expressions of interest to the Tyrewise Fund, another market development initiative, attracted more than 60 responses, a number of which involved roading or infrastructure applications.
‘It’s exciting to see such an interest in the fund,’ says Rose. ‘A major goal of Tyrewise is to help develop innovative, high-value onshore uses and unlock the value in the circular economy for end-of-life tyres. Tyres are going from being a waste stream to a resource, which creates jobs and adds value to the New Zealand economy, rather than being illegally dumped, stockpiled or landfilled.’
Similar funding by Tyre Stewardship Australia supported the development of Porous Lane, a permeable paving product made from up to 60 per cent recycled tyres, or around three passenger tyres per square metre. Now available in New Zealand, using New Zealand recycled rubber materials – through Tyrewise-registered partner Porous Lane by Watersmart – it’s generating strong interest for its ability to reduce pressure on stormwater systems and mitigate the urban heat island effect, as well as for containing less embodied carbon than alternative products.
Tyrewise has high hopes that Aotearoa New Zealand–based research into incorporating recycled rubber materials to create more resilient building foundation will also lead to a commercially available homegrown product.
The overall message from Tyrewise? ‘Watch this space; we’re turning tyre waste into opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand.’