L4T opens ‘Europe’s largest’ tire recycling plant

Puertollano, Spain – Waste tire recycling group Life for Tyres (L4T) has opened its first recycling facility for end-of-life tires (ELTs) in Puertollano, in central Spain.

Described as the “largest and most innovative” tire recycling plant in Europe, the facility upcycles ELTs into secondary commodities, such as ISSC certified advanced biofuel feedstock and recovered carbon black as well as scrap steel.

The €33 million facility has the capacity to process 27 kilotonnes per annum of waste tires, said L4T in a statement 10 March.

Constructed following more than 10 years of research and industrial testing, the facility employs “proprietary technology” developed in partnership with machinery maker Curti Group, and is protected by five patents. 

According to the statement, L4T intends to replicate the ‘standardised’ plant globally, with engineering construction of second and third facilities in Guardo, Spain, and Yaguachi, Ecuador already underway.

In addition, L4T said that is developing “a pipeline of projects in Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Asia, with an objective to operate at least eight facilities globally by 2025/26.”