(Photo: Unsplash / Imthaz Ahamed) In 2011, South Africa faced a daunting challenge – about 60 million used tyres scattered across the country, outnumbering its population. At the time, only about 4% of these tyres were recycled, leaving the remaining 96% to pose significant environmental and health risks. Informal disposal methods, such as burning, exacerbated ecological damage and threatened public health. However, over the past decade, South Africa has made strides towards improving tyre recycling and management.
Read more: Our tyres are poisoning rivers and killing aquatic life, studies show
State of tyre recycling
Fast forward to the present. While significant strides have been made in improving tyre recycling and management, the problem persists. According to Sheq Management, an estimate based on confirmed data by the Waste Bureau calculates that South Africa generates a staggering 240,000 to 250,000 tonnes of end-of-life tyres annually.
Against this backdrop, companies like Tyrec are playing a crucial role in addressing the tyre recycling challenge. Eric Khoza, CEO of Tyrec, a pioneering company specialising in tyre recycling and management, is driven by a passion for addressing environmental challenges.
“My inspiration to pursue this role stems from a desire to address environmental challenges in a tangible way, particularly through sustainable waste management solutions,” he said in an interview with Business Minds.
Transforming waste into value
So, what happens to discarded old tyres? Khoza says the answer lies in a remarkable story of recycling and innovation. For him, end-of-life tyres present a unique opportunity.
“When not properly disposed of, they pose a significant environmental hazard, but they also offer a chance to create value by transforming waste into reusable products,” he said.
This environmental hazard is not limited to waste accumulation. Recent studies have shown that chemicals from tyres can also contaminate waterways, harming aquatic life. For instance, a study found that 6PPPD-quinone, a chemical breakdown product from certain vehicle tyres, can kill trout within hours of entering rivers and freshwater bodies.
In response to such challenges, companies are developing sustainable solutions.
One notable example is the Mathe Group, which is pushing the boundaries of tyre recycling. Mathe Group CEO Dr Mehran Zarrebini says the radial truck tyre recycler has just achieved a significant milestone – processing its millionth such tyre. This has resulted in the production of about 38,500 tons of rubber crumb which is now being reused in industrial and construction applications.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/img007.jpg "Dr Mehran Zarrebini, CEO of Mathe Group, at the group‘s factory in Hammarsdale, KZN. On the left is the steel removed from old truck tyres. On the right are used tyres waiting to be recycled. (Photo: Supplied)")
The group recycles about 700 radial truck tyres a day to produce 30 tons of rubber crumb – 70% of each 55kg truck tyre becomes rubber crumb and 30% is waste steel which is exported via the port of Durban.
Through research, development and working with key partners, Mathe Group’s repertoire of products includes:
- non-slip paving;
- flooring for agricultural use;
- Ballistics products;
- gym mats;
- rubber pavers; and
- infill for sports fields.
Differing sizes of rubber crumb are also key ingredients in bitumen for road resurfacing, non-slip paints, moulding of parts for the automotive industry, retreading of tyres and the production of brake linings.
Read more: Increase in cost of tyres could be the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for transport industry operators
Zarrebini said that “a number of challenges have stood in the way of Mathe Group not achieving its important millionth tyre milestone far sooner. These include the Covid-19 pandemic which shut down the plant for 18 months, load shedding, water shortages and ongoing legal battles and delayed implementation of the Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan.”
Global sustainability efforts
As the industry continues to navigate these challenges, innovative solutions are emerging. Globally, companies such as Continental are leading the way in sustainable tyre management.
Public relations and communications manager at Continental Tyre Jiminy Bosman told Daily Maverick that Continental’s global retreading operations were a perfect example of intelligent circular economy solutions.
When truck tyres are retreaded, the rubber removed from the treads is regenerated and used for new rubber compounds. Compared with a new tyre, a retreaded tyre saves material by up to 70%, cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 24% and reduces water use by 19%.
Bosman said Continental also relied on the mechanical processing of end-of-life tyres. “Rubber, steel and textile cord in particular are separated, in a highly sophisticated process, from one another. The rubber is then prepared for re-use as part of our tyre production for years. During pyrolysis, mainly oil, gas and carbon are recovered from end-of-life tyres, which can then be used for various purposes. Among other things, pyrolysis oil can be used to produce new raw materials.”
Looking ahead, Continental has set its sights on even more ambitious sustainability goals.
“In our Vision 2030, we have set a number of sustainability ambitions for our company. By 2040, we want to improve our waste recovery rate at our plants to 95%. No later than 2050, we will use 100% sustainable materials in our tyres and source 60% of materials from recycled tyres,” said Bosman.
The company continuously invests in research and development of new technologies and methods to improve the efficiency of tyre recycling and to further reduce waste. DM