ericcrama | stock.adobe.com
Empire State Development (ESD), New York's chief economic development agency, has announced a $2.36 million investment in six technology research projects to increase the reuse, retreading and recycling of end-of-life tires generated in New York.
ESD’s investment includes $1.4 million in state funding through the NYS Waste Tire Program, which is managed by the Remade Institute. Remade, based in Rochester, New York, was selected to develop and administer the program in 2025 on behalf of ESD.
“New York is turning an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity,” says Hope Knight, ESD president, CEO and commissioner. “Through the NYS Waste Tire Program and our partnership with Remade, we are supporting innovative technologies that reuse, remanufacture and recycle waste tires—advancing circular economy solutions while helping grow New York’s clean technology and advanced manufacturing sectors.”
Approximately 18-20 million waste tires are generated in New York each year, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The NYS Waste Tire Program is a local example of the global effort to advance the circular economy. ESD says conserving resources like rubber and tires through reuse, retreading and recycling is a key part of this transition.
The six waste tire recycling projects were selected by Remade through the institute’s formal merit review process in concurrence with ESD. A request for proposals (RFPs) was issued in September with proposals due in November. All proposals were required to have a New York state-based partner as the source of waste tires within the state.
“These projects seek to not only address the challenges associated with these waste tires, but to develop innovative technologies to increase their reuse, remanufacturing and recycling and creating economic value to New York state,” says Remade CEO Nabil Nasr. “The NYS Waste Tire Program is a major step in the right direction and has the potential to be an example for other states to follow. With this program and more, the Empire State is quickly emerging as a circular economy leader here in the United States."
The six tire research projects are:
Physics-based machine learning models to estimate the remaining life of commercial vehicle tires for increased retreading; with Michelin North America, Northwestern University and Pitt Ohio Supply Chain as partners.
Artificial intelligence- (AI-) driven feedstock intelligence for end-of-life tire processing, with Fusion One and S&M Tire Recycling as partners.
Advancing matrix tire rubber devulcanization technology: Exploration of catalysts, odor control and product refinement development for Ancora and Ennova rubber modified olefins, partnered with Prism Worldwide.
Novel use of automation for mass manufacturing of recycled crumb rubber products, partnered with Tire Conversion Technologies, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute and Hart Tool Company.
Ultrasonic devulcanization of waste tire rubbers for injected molded construction products, with the University of Akron and Rubberform Recycled Products as partners.
Production of cargo trailer floor mats to protect the wood floors in cargo transport trailers, with partners Liberty Tire Recycling, Prism Worldwide, Michigan Tool Works, L&J Manufacturing Services and Abrasive Waterjet of Indiana.
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