A new Auckland-based tyre recycling facility is set to manage up to 30,000 tonnes of scrap per year.
Waste Management NZ opened the new plant in Wiri on Friday with support from the Ministry for the Environment’s waste minimisation fund.
Associate minister for the environment Eugenie Sage was also on site for the opening.
It is set to make a significant difference in managing the environmental problem of end-of-life tyres.
Around 60,000 tonnes of tyre waste is generated annually in New Zealand from 4.2 million cars and trucks.
It’s critical issue for the environment and presents a difficult challenge as end-of-life tyres do not decompose.
The new Waste Management facility features innovative new tyre processing equipment from the United States and expands the processing capacity by 250% or three million car tyres per year.
The shredded material is supplied for re-use in manufacturing as tyre derived fuel, reducing waste stockpiling and turning a discarded resource into energy.
Tyres are a good source of fuel for a range of purposes such as powering cement kilns and power plants.
Waste Management managing director Tom Nickels says the new facility is set to make a big difference for tyre recycling in New Zealand.
“Sustainability is our core purpose at Waste Management. This facility will play a key role in tackling a growing environmental problem which is a cause of concern for many New Zealanders.
“The Government’s support, coupled with our own investment, has created a local solution for the re-use of end-of-life tyres, and we are pleased to be turning waste into energy through the creation and supply of tyre derived fuel.
“As this country’s largest waste and environmental services company, we appreciate the important role we can play in maximising the value of waste streams. Now this includes waste tyres,” Nickels says.
Waste Management plans to open another tyre recycling facility in the South Island in late 2019.
