Wastefront secures ELT supply in UK, mulls European plant

London – Norway-baed tire recycling Wastefront AS has signed an agreement with Gateway Resources for the supply of end-of-life tires (ELTs) for its currently under-construction recycling plant at the Port of Sunderland, UK.

Under the agreement, Gateway Resources will supply Wastefront with nearly 10 million waste tires every year, the Norwegian recycler said in a 27 May statement.

In addition, the two partners signed a memorandum of understanding to work together towards an additional ELT supply agreement for a potential Wastefront plant in continental Europe, which is under review.

Gateway, according to the statement, will supply the tires through contracts that are already in place with some of the largest ELT processors and aggregators across the UK.

Backed by energy giant Vitol, Wastefront secured planning permission in January 2022 to build the £100 million (€120 million) tire recycling plant in Sunderland, which is set to be commercially operational by 2024.

At full capacity, the plant will be able to manage 20% of the UK’s total ELTs through processing 80,000 tonnes annually.

According to Wastefront, the 10-million supply figure corresponds to "a substantial volume" of the total waste tires that are currently exported from the UK per year.

“Today’s announcement will play a crucial role in eliminating the UK’s waste tires export altogether, by creating a local solution to a global problem,” it added.

“Our agreement with Gateway Resources is a key part of our mission - tackling the scourge of ELTs at scale and pace, whilst creating a truly circular economy in tandem,” said Wastefront CEO, Vianney Valès.