Disposing of old bike tyres: Schwalbe now offers tyre recycling for everyone
Henri Lesewitz
· 23.01.2023
The story sounded like a fairy tale and was all over the media: bike dealer Ingo Ruhland from Freising had been collecting his customers' old tyres for years because he felt it was a crime against the environment to simply throw them in the incinerator. He secretly hoped that a recycling process would be developed at some point. "Tyres are not waste, they are recyclable materials," Ingo Ruhland clarifies. Over the years, more than 20,000 old tyres accumulated in his vaulted cellar without his hopes being fulfilled. Then, in November, 23 years after the collection campaign began, the time had come. Schwalbe had made the impossible possible. Together with the Technical University of Cologne and the innovative Saarland start-up Pyrum, a system for recovering raw tyre materials was successfully implemented.
>> Read more about sustainability in biking in our special:
How can cycling be even better for the environment? <<
Schwalbe's promise: 80 per cent CO2 savings
Until now, Schwalbe, a pioneer in sustainability, has been the Recycling with hoses only succeeded. Extending the system to tyres represents a huge quantum leap, as they are more complex in structure and more diverse in terms of materials.
Here's how it works: customers can hand in their bike tyres at any retailer participating in the programme. The logistics company Emona takes the collection containers to Pyrum's tyre recycling centre. There, the components of the tyres are separated using a patented thermal process. The recovered raw materials are then used for the production of new tyres. According to Schwalbe, this saves almost 80 per cent of CO2.
Tyre recycling info: Return and costs
Where do I hand in my old bicycle tyre?
The Schwalbe website now lists more than 1300 participating companies. Retailer. Old bicycle tyres can be handed in there.
When is an old bike tyre really worn out?
Unlike car tyres, where the wear limit is determined by the tread depth, there is no exact value for bicycle or mountain bike tyres. The more worn the studs, the worse the performance. And also the puncture resistance.
Can I also return bicycle tyres of other brands?
Yes, every bicycle tyre is accepted and recycled. And of course you can also hand in tyres if you don't buy a new one.
Will the costs be passed on to me?
This is individual. In most cases, the retailer covers the cost of disposal (139 euros per container). However, there are also a few shops that charge customers a small contribution.
When should I change a tyre on my MTB?
When the tread is so worn that traction suffers. After two or three years, the rubber compound also starts to become porous. As soon as significant cracks appear or studs on the sides tear or break off, it is time for a tyre change. Tyre change.
How are the tyres recycled?
At the dealer, they end up in a special container that holds 200 coats. Once it is full, it is collected by Schwalbe's haulage partner.
What contribution do I make to the environment by returning old tyres?
The process avoids waste and CO2 emissions during incineration. Instead, crude oil substitute is obtained in an energy self-sufficient production process, as well as carbon black, which can then be used in new tyres. This also saves CO2 (80 percent according to Schwalbe) and fossil raw materials in the tyre manufacturing process.
Will other companies follow suit?
That is as good as certain. The only question is when. Schwalbe is now even being used as a blueprint in the automotive industry. BMW, among others, has been "feeding" the first pyrolysis reactor from Pyrum in Saarland since January 2023.
How the tyre recycling cycle works
- The old bicycle tyres are shredded and separated in four stages.
- 1 tonne of used tyres result in 150 kg steel + 100 kg textile fibres
+ 750 kg rubber granulate. - The rubber granulate ends up in the pyrolysis oven at 700 °C in the absence of oxygen.
- This produces: 190 kg of process gas, 250 kg of pyrolysis oil and 310 kg of pyrolysis coke rCB (Recovered Carbon Black).
- The pyrolysis plant is operated energy self-sufficiently with the gas.
- The oil is used as a crude oil substitute and is purchased by BASF.
- The rCB is used for the production of new tyres.
Interview: Felix Jahn, Schwalbe
We have always found burning tyres to be a disaster.
His grandfather Ralf Bohle founded Schwalbe, his uncle is CEO of the brand, his father manages the operational business and he heads the Corporate Social Responsibility team. Felix Jahn (31) explains in an interview with our author Sissi Pärsch how the family business is becoming a pioneer of the circular economy.
BIKE: Schwalbe has been trying to set up a tyre recycling programme since the 1990s. Why did it take so long?
Felix Jahn: Unlike an inner tube, a tyre is not made of mono-material. It has a much more complex structure with a bead core, carcass and different rubber compounds. Even dismantling the tyre is a challenge. Not to mention the reprocessing. So we are all the more proud to have closed the cycle.
Why did you get so hung up on this topic?
As a matter of principle, we see it as our corporate duty to act as resource-efficiently as possible. The circular economy is an important part of this. To be honest, we have always regarded the burning of tyres as a disaster. The emissions that are produced, the resources that are lost forever. I am sure that other old wheel components can also be turned into high-quality new ones. As an industry, we can make the transition from a linear to a circular economy.
Does securing your own supply chain also play a role in addition to sustainability?
Of course, we recognise the growing fragility of global supply chains. Building a second pillar here can only be good for us.
Schwalbe is the first bicycle tyre manufacturer in the world with a recycling system. What does it look like outside the industry?
Our project has become a model and is actually being cited as a blueprint for the circular economy in the tyre and rubber industry. It makes us proud that we, as a medium-sized company, have managed to establish a model project in just two or three years. Of course, we only represent a small part of the gigantic used tyre market. But what we have initiated shows that even a small wheel can set big things in motion.
What were the key steps in the development of your system?
The most important piece of the puzzle was the trust that enabled us to carry out research together with the TH Cologne and Pyrum. Without their extraordinary commitment and that of our entire team, we would not be where we are today. Our logistics provider Emons also played an important role. They rolled out a system without being able to calculate exactly what was in store for them. You can only achieve the advance performance and commitment if you approach it with conviction.
How has the trade reacted to your tyre recycling system?
Very positive, which is also confirmed by the already high number of participants. Tyre disposal is a problem for many companies because it is time-consuming and inconvenient. Not to mention the environmental aspect.
What are the current challenges for you?
We are continuing to work on achieving a quality of recycled carbon black that can be used to produce long-lasting, high-performance tyres. Tyre compounds are obtained from virgin carbon black, a carbon-rich mixture of crude oil and gas. The characteristics of the carbon blacks are precisely defined. This is not the case with recovered carbon black. Different tyres from different brands are processed, and there is a corresponding variance in quality. We are now researching to achieve as consistent an output as possible. Then we can adjust the rubber compound.
What are your other goals?
This year at Eurobike 2023, we will be presenting the first bicycle tyre made from 100 percent rCB, which will be available in stores afterwards. Of course, we are pursuing the goal of equipping as many products as possible with rCB. Among other things, we would then like to offer our tyre recycling systems in even more countries and continuously reduce our emissions through smart product development and the expansion of renewable energies.
