Texans probably don’t spend much time considering what happens to the millions of worn-out or busted car and truck tyres that are discarded throughout the state each year. But Genan Inc. does.
The Danish company has made a lucrative business out of recycling used tyres and converting them into raw rubber and steel. Throughout the course of the last 20 years, Genan has grown its recycling business throughout Europe, where it has four plants that each recycle about 7 million tyres a year. About three years ago, the company started setting up U.S. operations that would grow to four sales and distribution locations throughout the country. Now, Genan wants to recycle millions of used tyres that Texans are throwing in the trash.
At the beginning of May, Genan plans to start up full production at what it has declared the world’s largest tyre recycling plant. This new plant, which sits on 40 acres of land, is located at 18038 Beaumont Highway in northeast Houston.
Constructed over the last two years with an investment of $140 million, the Houston operation will have the capability to recycle about 10 million tyres a year — about a third of all the used tyres in Texas — and it will employ 60 workers.
Besides operating as a factory that will convert used tyres into raw rubber and steel, Thomas Pash, Genan’s U.S. CEO, explained that the facility will also serve as the company’s U.S. headquarters. Although Genan plans to grow its presence in the U.S. and open at least four new recycling plants in the coming years, Houston will continue to be the base of the company’s operations.