Circtec is building the world's largest chemical recycling plant for car tires in Groningen. If all goes according to plan, the plant will open at the end of the summer.
Circtec has developed a technology to chemically recycle car tires. "We chemically disassemble the tire (at high temperature, ed.). We break down the rubber into smaller molecules that evaporate and largely condense again," says Pieter ter Haar, director of sustainable carbonaceous materials at Circtec. After the recycling process, the various chemicals from a tire can be reused as raw materials for new car tires and renewable biofuel, for example.
Some 3.5 million car tires end up in Europe's waste every year. "Currently, car tires are processed into granulate for playing fields, among other things, but this will no longer be allowed in Europe in a few years," he says. He also points out that much of our waste tires are burned for cement production. In addition, many European tires are shipped to India, for example, so that the tires can be burned and processed there without regard to the environment, public health orCO2 emissions. "We have a responsibility to make new raw materials and valuable products from our own waste products and not to pollute other parts of the world with our waste and its unregulated incineration."
Different industries
Circtec is working hard on that. From some of the rubber from car tires, the company makes Naphtha. This is a substance that can be used as a raw material for the production of synthetic rubber and plastics. From another part of the rubber is made HUPA, an advanced biofuel for ships. The carbon black - a raw material in car tires that strengthens the rubber and provides the black color - can also be reused after recycling. "We handle the recycling of tires from the moment they come off a car to the production of the various new chemical products. That makes us unique from our competitors," Ter Haar says.
Scaling up
Circtec already has plants in Poland and Germany where it recycles tires on a smaller scale. The plant in Groningen will be the first large-scale facility. The plant will process about 20 million (200,000 tons) waste tires annually, which is 6% of all waste tires in Europe each year. "So, we can really make an impact on the chemical industry," he said.
The company has already found customers for all recycled products for the coming years. "We are working with BP, among others," Ter Haar said. The supply of tires has also been considered: Circtec has acquired a tire collection and recycling company in the port of Amsterdam with Granuband.
Making an impact
The company - now in existence for more than 15 years - has the process well thought out. "But it's always exciting to use a new technology on such a large scale. We are going to provide the market with relevant volumes. I'm very excited to see the impact of our recycled products in meeting the sustainability goals set by the tire industry."
Ter Haar is determined to make an impact by making the chemical industry more sustainable. "With the new plant, we are contributing to both the energy and materials transition. The plant will offset about 3% of the Dutch chemical industry'sCO2 emissions."