Recyclatech to be supported by the Recycling Commercialisation Centre.

The Recycling Commercialisation Centre, managed by Imperial Innovations on behalf of the Waste & Resource Action Programme (WRAP), is to provide incubation and support services to Scottish tyre recycling company Recyclatech, which has developed a microbiological rubber devulcanisation technique that can convert rubber in large proportions into a form that can be incorporated into new high technology rubber products.

Disposal of whole and processed tyres in landfills is outlawed by European directives. This means there is scope for the commercialisation of tyre recycling technologies. Every year 50 million tyres expire, and currently, only half of the UK waste is recycled into low value applications such as in energy recovery in the manufacture of cement.

On the basis of research from Napier University in Edinburgh, Recyclatech has developed a microbiological devulcanisastion technique that generates a recyclate which can be used in high-value applications in large volumes.

The WRAP funded Recycling Commercialisation Centre will provide Recyclatech with resources and support for technical testing, assistance with business planning, help in identifying funding opportunities, and assistance with developing the company towards investment readiness as well as with the identification of markets and customers.

Susan Searle, CEO of Imperial Innovations, said: “This technology has the potential to revolutionise the rubber recycling industry. We look forward to working with the team at Recyclatech.”

Bill Findly, CEO of Recyclatech, said: “Today, valuable applications are sought for end-of-life tyres. Recyclatech has the potential to reuse significant volumes of waste rubber into new tyres and we are very pleased that the development of this technology will benefit from the help and support of the WRAP funded Recycling Commercialisation Centre.”