Tyrecycle, as its name might suggest, has long been dealing with end-of-life tyre recycling, but the company’s latest move into conveyor belt recycling marks a significant new chapter, particularly for Australia’s mining sector.
According to Tyrecycle chief executive officer (CEO) Jim Fairweather, the decision to expand into this space was driven by a clear gap in the market.
“We looked at unmet needs in the market,” Fairweather said. “We saw this as a problem for the mining sector, one that hadn’t been solved.”
On top of its existing work with off-the-road mining tyres, Tyrecycle is now partnering with Fenner Conveyors to tackle one of the most intractable rubber waste streams in mining: conveyor belts. The collaboration leverages each company’s strengths and signals a long-term commitment to support sustainable outcomes in mining.
“We’re looking at both conveyor belts and OTR mining tyres at the same time,” Fairweather said, referencing Australia’s Port Hedland facility and the company’s partnership with Fenner Conveyors. “The mining industry has been crying out for solutions for both.”
To address the challenge at scale, Tyrecycle has developed a process that handles end-of-life conveyor belts sustainably and efficiently at its East Rockingham and Port Hedland sites in WA. The first step involves pre-processing the belts based on which location delivers the most carbon and cost-efficient result for the customer.
“Once they’re processed, we can shred them effectively at any of our nine national locations, reducing them to a more consumable size,” Fairweather said.
The shredded material then either becomes crumbed rubber for roads or is converted into micronised rubber, Fairweather said.
While the vision is to incorporate the rubber into new conveyor belts, we are starting with use in road surfacing, which helps ensure an open-loop recycling pathway that still delivers strong, measurable sustainability outcomes.
The environmental importance of this initiative can’t be overstated. Historically, end-of-life conveyor belts have been stockpiled in vast quantities on mine sites or left to accumulate.
“That doesn’t do the market or mining companies any good,” Fairweather said. “It doesn’t promote trust with the public around recycling and how mining companies are handling their waste.”
By offering a solution that provides full chain of custody and tangible recycling outcomes, Tyrecycle aims to be a reliable partner for mining operators seeking to do the right thing.
“It’s imperative that we do our job,” Fairweather said. “Mining companies deserve a reputable, reliable supplier that can handle this material responsibly, socially, environmentally, and economically. They’ve been asking for a solution, and we’ve given them one.”
Initial feedback has been positive, with many mining companies now assessing how to incorporate the service into their operations. Budget cycles are influencing the speed of uptake, but Fairweather remains optimistic.
“Some mining companies have been far more progressive than others,” he said. “We applaud them for that and hope the rest will follow.”
With hundreds of thousands of tonnes of mining tyres and conveyor belts reaching end-of-life each year, rivalling the volume of passenger, truck and bus tyres, the scale of the problem is enormous. But Fairweather believes Tyrecycle is well-positioned to lead
the charge.
The expansion into conveyor belts complements Tyrecycle’s core mission and builds on its position in the tyre recycling sector. The company already operates as the largest tyre recycler in the Southern Hemisphere.
“We see ourselves as a one-stop shop for customers,” Fairweather said. “We take our role as a market leader, and therefore an innovator, really seriously.”
While recovery rates for passenger and truck tyres sit at 98 per cent, the collection rate for OTR tyres remains at just 10 per cent, and only one per cent of mining tyres are currently recycled. Conveyor belts face similar challenges, making them a high-priority area for intervention.
“This is the environmental issue that still faces waste rubber in Australia,” Fairweather said.
“With us and Fenner, you’ve got two industry leaders with complementary expertise. We’re not coming into this fresh; we’re established, reputable businesses.”
As the partnership evolves, the goal is not just to reduce environmental harm but to also build trust, improve site safety, and provide genuine circular economy outcomes for Australian mining.
“We’re looking forward to working with mining companies in a collaborative and high-functioning way,” Fairweather said. “This is just the beginning.”
This article appeared in the Summer edition of Mining Magazine.
