Tyre Recycling Process

All waste brought into UKR will be weighed in over the weigh bridge and then inspected for any contaminates.

Once inspected and found to be clear of any contaminates, vehicles with loads are then brought into our facility where loads are tipped and again inspected.

If we have mixed loads car/van truck these will be pushed into the bay for shredding. Any bigger tyres such as agricultural or earth movers, these are set aside and will be chopped into smaller pieces prior to being shredded.

Any loads that are contaminated will not be accepted into UKR. Weigh bridge tickets and duty of care documents will be given to the drivers as per SEPA regulations.

Tyres have long been considered an economically unshreddable product, due to their heavy-duty nature and the high level of wear and tear that traditional high-speed tyre shredders are usually subjected to. But, with an estimated 50,000 tonnes of tyre waste produced in the UK every year — and counting — UKR continued to seek an effective method of processing this large volume of bulky material.

The search for a robust and industry-proven tyre shredding and separation solution therefore began.

The UNTHA XR3000C waste shredder has achieved global acclaim for its ability to tackle even the trickiest, bulkiest applications, with ease. The machine’s high-torque, slow-speed operation means even difficult waste such as tyres can be handled with minimal wear, maximum uptime, impressive throughputs, particle precision and operator safety —with no debeading required. The XR is also renowned for its electric drive, which results in a cleaner, greener shred when compared to competitors’ diesel hydraulic equivalents — crucial given the very sustainability credentials operators are so keen to boost.

The single-step shredding line means clean steel can be extracted for high-value scrap (recycling), and fibre can also be sold as a third-party product additive. The homogenous rubber crumb can be used as a Tyre Derived Fuel (TDF) with shredded tyres also being ideal for landscaping, equestrian flooring, and play areas.

With UNTHA shredding technology in place on the Motherwell site, UKR now has ample capacity so is well-placed to grow its foothold in Scotland, with further expansion in England also on the horizon.