Scrap Tyre Co-operation Down Under

In Australia, a recycler named John MacVicar has suggested that a diesel fuel production facility that he is planning to build north of Adelaide could import scrap tyres from New Zealand as raw material. Mr. MacVicar, who heads up AAA Recycling in South Australia, is said to be currently recycling tyres offshore.

The diesel production process involves heating the tyres in a cracking catalyst, which breaks them down into fuel, steel and carbon. The steel and carbon can be sold on to other industries and the diesel fuel is further refined in an enclosed process.

According to Mr. MacVicar, the process leaves no residue to be sent to landfill and processing 40 tonnes of scrap tyres yields 19 tonnes of diesel fuel, 15 tonnes of carbon black and six tonnes of steel.