WRAP Names Three Funding Recipients

Three companies have become the recipients of grants from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) as part of their initiative to help businesses increase their capacity to reprocess old tyres. The initiative was open to any business involved in the reprocessing of tyre waste that would otherwise have ended up as landfill.

One of the recipients, Bristol Tyre, is a newcomer to the tyre processing industry and WRAP has provided support by funding a shredding machine and related equipment. A second recipient, McGrath, will use the WRAP funds to purchase tyre shredding and granulating equipment along with a loading shovel and grab machine. The third company, Great Yarmouth’s Aquablast, has developed bespoke machinery to remove steel from tyre rubber via high pressure water blasting. The WRAP funding has enabled Aquablast to create a machine capable of handling earthmover tyres.

“WRAP has supported companies eligible for financial assistance with up to 30 per cent of the capital start-up costs, which include purchasing land, developing new infrastructure and buying tyre reprocessing equipment,” said WRAP project manager for tyres Steve Waite. “The enhanced capacity put in place with these projects has helped increase recycling of used tyres into value-added markets.”

Aquablast managing director Donald Blair said “We are delighted that our bid for WRAP’s capital support funding was successful. The contribution to this project, both in terms of financial and advisory input, will make a big difference.” He added that the company is now in a position to develop a large-scale version of its rubber separation facility next year.