Green light for Wastefront’s tire pyrolysis plant

London - Wastefront has been granted environmental permit for its UK end-of-life tire (ELT) pyrolysis plant at the Port of Sunderland, the Norwegian group announced 5 Sept.

The decision, said the group, is a “vital step” in the process and clears the way for “the next stage” of the €125 million project.

“Wastefront’s work is timely and urgent,” said CEO Vianney Vales, adding “the entire team can now focus on starting construction and investing further in Sunderland.”

The Wastefront boss said the approval was a ‘milestone decision’ as the group aimed to have the site “fully operational” by 2026, a year later than previously announced.

Once fully online, the facility will have capacity to process around 80,000 tonnes of ELTs per year, according to the Oslo-based company.

The approval follows a "strategic deal" with energy storage company VTTI in July to advance and scale-up Wastefront’s tire pyrolysis technology.

The deal consists of two packages: the initial one offering a €40-million investment in the Sunderland project and second one studying the construction of eight jointly owned ELT pyrolysis plants.