UK’s Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has added a quality protocol option standard to facilitate the re-use of materials recovered from scrap tyres. The new option will accompany the existing publicly available specification (PAS) 107:12 covering the manufacture and storage of size-reduced tyre-derived materials. TRA said the quality protocol identifies the point at which waste, having been fully recovered, may be regarded as a non-waste product that can be used in specified markets without the need for waste.
The updating of the PAS has been carried out in close co-operation with the Environment Agency and is already endorsed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Welsh Environment Agency. Its development has been led by the associations own independent auditor, Abricon Ltd.
A Quality Protocol identifies the point at which waste, having been fully recovered, may be regarded as a non-waste product that can be used in specified markets without the need for waste-management controls if its criteria are met. As such this new QP will remove a significant impediment to the full valorisation and proper recognition of tyre-derived materials in the future.
TRA, which devised and manages the UK tyre industry’s Responsible Recycler Scheme will become the first Certification Body able to certify compliance with this new PAS 107 QP Quality Protocol through its existing TRA audit process. Successfully certified companies will be allowed to use the “certified recycled” tyre product mark on their websites, letterhead and product material as well as display the TRA quality assurance badge. Certification will carry with it some significant cost benefits for producers and customers alike as this QP-specific material will not require a waste permit. This is expected to deliver significant annual savings to businesses in the TDRM sector as well as bring a new stimulus to demand for tyre-derived recyclates.