"The Enhance programme has awarded London Tyre Recycling (LTR) with a capital grant for tyre shredding equipment to work in response to the EU Landfill Directive that bans most tyres from being sent to landfill"
Hugh Smith, programme manager, London Remade
London: The Enhance Capital Fund has provided a grant of £133,000 to help Edmonton-based London Tyre Recycling (LTR) become established and provide a solution to the UK’s huge waste tyre problem.
The grant will be used by LTR to acquire tyre shredding equipment and the recycled rubber product could be used at the UK Olympics in 2012.
The capital grant will help to create 13 jobs, enabling LTR to provide a valuable, environmental service in an Objective 2 area of London and will enable the company to acquire an Eldan pre-chopper and super-chopper that will shred waste tyres, primarily from Edmonton and Park Royal.
Tyres still on rims will be separated and the steel sent for re-smelting. The end result of the tyre processing will be useful, environmentally friendly products, with typical uses including engineering, the sports and recreation industry (equestrian ménage rings, artificial sports surfaces), landscaping, and horticulture (mulches, drainage). Recently successful research has been undertaken into the use of recycled rubber to produce roofing tiles.
Waste tyres reprocessed and used for equestrian ménage rings. (Photo: Enhance)
Glyn Brooke, managing director, London Tyre Recycling, said:
“The grant we have received for the tyre shredders from the Enhance Capital Fund is extremely important for the business. This will enable London Tyre Recycling to develop quickly and expand its offering to other businesses and local authorities, as well as potentially supply recycled rubber chips and granulate to use for the development of the 2012 Olympic Games.”
The tyre problem
Tyre disposal in the UK has been a major problem and much attention is being focused on this, particularly through WRAP and organisations such as Enhance – supported in partnership by London Remade and the the London Community Recycling Network with strong financial support from the London Development Agency.
It has been estimated that around 48 million tyres (487,000 tonnes) per year are discarded and that every day over 131,000 worn tyres are taken off cars, vans and trucks, illustrating the scale of the problem. Tyres also present a significant pollution risk when disposed of inappropriately, especially if they catch fire as surface and groundwater resources can be hit in addition to atmospheric problems.
The EU Landfill Directive banned the disposal of tyres to landfill, initially banning whole tyres in July 2003 and later shredded tyres in July 2006. Almost all tyres including car, commercial, motorbike, aircraft, and industrial, are affected. Bicycle tyres are not subject to the ban, nor tyres above 1.4 metres outside diameter (e.g. larger agricultural and earthmover tyres).
Enhance
Enhance is the support service for green enterprises in London. It helps develop businesses that reduce London’s waste, reuse resources or work with recycled materials. The programme is supported by £4.8 million from the London Development Agency. The Enhance team of experts from the recycling, social enterprise and business sectors has been brought together by delivery partners, London Remade and London Community Recycling Network.
Hugh Smith, programme manager, London Remade, said:
“The Enhance programme has awarded London Tyre Recycling (LTR) with a capital grant for tyre shredding equipment to work in response to the EU Landfill Directive that bans most tyres from being sent to landfill. The funding will enable LTR to take used tyres from this priority waste stream and reprocess them into rubber chips that can be used to manufacture many new products.”
Further information
The following information is provided by London Remade:
Objective 2
The Objective 2 programme seeks to redress the imbalance in London’s economy by tackling barriers to economic opportunity in key areas suffering industrial decline, urban deprivation, low economic activity and social exclusion so that new, sustainable opportunities are open to all people living and working there.
http://www.gos.gov.uk/gol/European_funding/Objective_2/?a=42496
London Tyre Recycling Limited
Established in July 2007, London Tyre Recycling (LTR) offers a comprehensive tyre recycling facility at its premises in Edmonton, North London.
www.londontyrerecycling.co.uk
Enhance
More information can be found on the organisation's web site.
www.enhancelondon.co.uk
London Development Agency
The London Development Agency (LDA) works to improve the quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.
Its role is to bring together the right people, skills and resources to deliver real results in the long term, responding to the needs and ambitions of communities and businesses.
www.lda.gov.uk
London Remade
London Remade is in the business of recycling, creating environmental solutions for a sustainable capital. This is achieved through developing markets for recycled content products, providing tailored support to help grow green enterprises and introducing green practices to existing businesses.
www.londonremade.com
London Community Recycling Network (London CRN)
London CRN is a not-for-profit, second tier organisation, dedicated to supporting and promoting community-based sustainable waste management activities, and make them the preferred solution – financially, socially and environmentally – for the people of London.
www.lcrn.org.uk