Water firm to recycle 100% of its tyres

Tyres from United Utilities’ fleet of 1411 vans, wagons and tankers will be closed loop recycled by Direct Tyre Management into playground floors and synthetic sports fields.

The steel belt and bead wire inside the tyres is remelted to produce, amongst other things, manhole covers.

United Utilities’ supply chain spokesman, Tony Edwards, said: “We’ve been looking at ways to make our supply chain more sustainable and this is a great example of how a problem waste stream can be turned into something with real value.”

Direct Tyre Management spokesman, Steve Richardson, added: “Finding sustainable ways of dealing with used tyre casings is vital, and this partnership scheme is a shining example of just what can be achieved, with the right level of commitment and imagination.”

United Utilities is the only water company to feature in the prestigious 2010 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index – which identifies the top 250 companies world-wide on the basis of economic, environmental and social criteria.

Luke Walsh