Murfitts doubles tire recycling capacity through UK acquisition

Lakenheath, UK – UK tire recycler Murfitts Industries has doubled its processing capacity through the acquisition of the tire recycling assets of Sapphire Energy Recovery, part of Tarmac, a sustainable building materials and construction solutions company. 

Made on the back of “close partnership” between the two companies over the past decade, the acquisition included Sapphire’s entire waste tire collection and processing plants in Birmingham and Manchester, Murfitts said 17 Oct.

In combination with its existing plants in Scotland, north of England and the West Midlands, the new assets will expand the company’s coverage across the UK.

The new, expanded business will sit under the Murfitts Industries brand, headed by current managing director Mark Murfitt. Some 12 Sapphire employees will transfer to Murfitts Industries as part of the agreement.

Under the agreement, Murfitts will continue to supply tire derived fuel (TDF) to Tarmac. 

In its statement, Murfitts said it would continue to invest and grow its end-of-life tire recycling capabilities in the UK, with particular focus on developing a green recycling framework for the UK. 

The framework, according to the company, "will ensure tires can be recycled to the very highest environmental standards, with full traceability and compliance." 

The company claims to be “the only” tire recycler in the world to recover 100% of all component materials in all its tires.

“This deal will enable us to deliver on our strategy of creating a greener, safer, tire recycling infrastructure for the whole of the UK,” said Mark Murfitt.

The Sapphire tire collections and tire processing business, he added, are “a natural fit” for Murfitts Industries, combining the company’s expertise and knowledge with Sapphire’s geographical coverage and processing power.