BUFFALO, N.Y. — Scandinavian Enviro Systems A.B., in partnership with Canadian recycler Treadcraft Ltd., has selected Buffalo as the site for a tire recycling plant the companies are hoping to open in the U.S.
The companies signed a memorandum of understanding June 29 covering the propose project, which would be capable of recycling 30,000 metric tons of scrapped tires per year.
The MoU is valid for six months, and Enviro Systems — which identifies itself as a producer of recovered carbon black (rCB) — said it hopes to start construction of the plant by year-end.
Enviro Systems claims the project has "great support" from the state, regional, and local officials in the Buffalo Niagara Region but didn't elaborate.
Based in Wainfleet, Ontario, Treadcraft recycles medium truck tires into crumb rubber and also produces clean bead and belt wire.
"Treadcraft is pleased to partner with Scandinavian Enviro Systems of Sweden and their process to produce valuable recycled carbon black for industry from this waste tire material," Treadcraft Terry Gilmore said.
Treadcraft, he added, is working with large industrial companies, in several sectors, to introduce the economic and environmental benefits of rCB manufactured through Enviro's process.
The Buffalo project is Enviro Systems's second North American project announcement in the past three months.
In March, Canadian energy-services provider ArticCan Energy Services Inc. proposed setting up a scrap-tire processing plant in Canada designed to process 30,000 metric tons of waste tires a year.
ArticCan Energy signed an MoU with Enviro Systems to develop pyrolysis technology for recovering carbon and hydrocarbon compounds from waste tires.
In addition, Enviro Systems had to cancel a similar-sized project in China recently due to local regulations. The 30,000 ton/year plant for Chinese tire maker Vanlead Group had to be re-evaluated following the introduction of stricter local regulations in November last year.