Australian footballers to play on Britain’s recycled tyres

The unlikely partnership is made by possible Suffolk-based Murfitts Industries, which shipped more than 300 tons of its recycled rubber granules to Monbulk Rangers Soccer club in east Melbourne for two new pitches.

Murfitt manufactures its rubber granules by recycling car tyres from across the UK, and has developed bespoke processes which enable it to recycle 100% of every tyre. The new playing surfaces will cover 19,000 square metres in total, and are fully compliant with FIFA regulations.

The firm’s founder Mark Murfitt said: “We aim to lead the way in both effective recycling and high quality manufacture. Our business is unusual in that we are able to completely remove a waste product from the refuse chain and create something of higher value from it, something which clearly has multiple benefits.”

Recent international projects which utilised Murfitts products include a new pitch for the Tokyo Dome baseball stadium, 3 fields at CEJU Youth Sports Center in Belem, Brazil and the world famous Amsterdam Arena – home of Ajax Football Club.

Burning rubber

Used tyres present an environmental problem in that many are sent to landfill or illegally sold abroad where they are burnt for cheap energy.

A recent study, from waste management firm BusinessWaste discovered that 65% of traders have been asked to dispose of tyres illegally, and 31% have given it consideration.

Murfitt Industries is not the only company looking to tackle the problem however. Global outdoor-wear company Timberland recently launched a line of tyres intended to be recycled into footwear out-soles once finished on the road.

Timberland aims to ensure no tyres are used for fuel or end up in landfill through an innovative tyre return chain-of-custody process, more details of which can be found here.

Brad Allen