Wastefront provides update on UK tire-pyrolysis project

London - Wastefront AS has given an update on the progress of its currently under construction end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis plant in the Port of Sunderland, the UK.

According to the Norway-based ELT recycler, the project will be built in two phases, with phase 1 construction continuing in 2024-25 and start-up scheduled in 2026.

The phase will cover 45% of the plant’s overall capacity, which will ultimately process 83 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa) of tire waste into biofuels, recycled steel and recovered carbon black.

Phase II, with the remaining 55% of capacity, is scheduled for start-up in 2027, the recycler informed ERJ in an 11 Dec statement.

A large part of phase II, including civil works and underground pipes, is already prepared along with the initial phase of the project, Wastefront added.

The update from Wastefront came in light of a new independent life cycle assessment (LCA) which has projected bigger environmental gains from the €120-million facility than previously estimated.

The assessment by auditor DNV has found that the facility will cut CO2 emissions by 2.7 million tonnes over its lifespan, compared to emissions from the fossil fuel-based production of the equivalent products.

This, according to Wastefront, is an upward revision from an initial estimate of 1.8 million tonnes.

The tire recycler linked the stronger gains to the larger size of the plant which will process 83ktpa of ELTs, as opposed to 73ktpa planned originally in 2020.

Furthermore, it said, the “improved configuration and overall higher recycling rate” have helped increase the environmental benefits of the facility.

“Investing in Wastefront is a highly cost-effective way to reduce emissions of CO2 and the release of other pollutants, while creating value with our recycled products,” said CEO Vianney Vales.