The new owner of Stawell’s nine million tyre stockpile, Used Tyre Recycling Corporation (UTRC), is keen to start the shredding process having just purchased a $250,000 tyre shredder.
Dr Matthew Starr, CEO of UTRC, said they were working well with authorities such as the EPA, CFA, and Powercor, and have invested considerable resources to help make the site more secure and reduce its fire risk.
“Within the next 12 months we expect to have invested $10 million in infrastructure in Stawell. We are very serious about reducing the stockpile and as soon as our processing plant is operational, we will be working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to do just this.
“Our first step is to get the shredder installed and three phase power connected to the site. We are pleased that the Northern Grampians Shire Council is supporting us to facilitate the permits needed for this to happen.
“The benefits to the Stawell community are going to be enormous,” said Starr. “As soon as we start shredding we will employ eight full time workers, ramping up to 50 full time staff when the complete processing plant is operational.”
The technology UTRC is employing is based around a patented tyre pyrolysis technique that was developed in Canada and is now owned by UTRC. The principle of the pyrolysis plant to be installed on site is a vacuum chamber that heats shredded rubber to 900 degrees centigrade. There is no unusable waste from the process that produces an abundant supply of recycled resources primarily comprising carbon black and through an oil distillation process, auto-quality diesel. UTRC is also collaborating with RMIT on technical matters.
“The technology is so good that the activated carbon black we produce approaches virgin carbon black material and we plan to use the diesel on site to fuel vehicles and other engines. Importantly, there will be zero emissions and minimal noise from our operation.”
UTRC is in talks with overseas buyers for the carbon black, which is a valuable resource that can be used in myriad industries for scores of applications. One potential emerging use is for anodes and cathodes in energy storage solutions such as the latest technology batteries.
Starr says the company is addressing both short term and long term issues with its investment in Stawell.
“First up, our priority is to eliminate the stockpile. But while this is happening we are also in the process of establishing funnels of tyre supply from New South Wales, Queensland and of course we want our site to be a focal point for the majority of used tyres in Victoria,” Starr said.
“We are here for the long-term. We will obviously have an income stream from the stockpile that’s there now, but will also need to ensure that the future is secure for our staff by having a steady supply of material to replace the pile when it is depleted.
“Our business model for this company and our other solar panels business is always about being renewable and sustainable. That is the basis of our multi-million-dollar Queensland operation and our investment in Stawell will be the same.”
With the youth unemployment rate for Stawell sitting at a stubborn 17 per cent and where the region has two and three generations of unemployed people, the establishment of Used Tyre Recycling Corporation in Stawell is one of the best things to happen in this region for 20 years.
Article source: http://prwire.com.au/pr/55016/stawell-s-9-million-tyre-pile-to-disappear
