Alcoa Australia and Tyrecycle are collaborating to create circular value from mining waste — the first used conveyor belts from Alcoa’s operations were delivered to Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility on 24 September 2025. The steel cables embedded in the belts will be reclaimed, and the rubber converted into rubber crumb, suitable for applications such as road additives, polymer blends, and molded products. 

Program Scope & Circular Impact

This initiative builds upon the 2024 off-the-road (OTR) tyre recycling contract between Alcoa and Tyrecycle. Under the new program, approximately 32 km of used conveyor belts will be transported over the coming months. Tyrecycle expects to process around 100 tonnes/week into crumb as part of this belt recycling effort, in addition to handling over 300 tonnes/year of Alcoa’s used OTR tyres. 

Ashley Battilana, Head of Trading, Mining & Strategic Development at Tyrecycle, says the rubber crumb will be directed into “a broad range of applications such as polymers for bitumen, granules for sports/play surfaces, adhesives and molded rubber products.” He also mentioned a vision to eventually integrate recycled materials into the manufacturing of new conveyor belts. 

Since Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility opened (May 2024), its partnership with mining operators in Western Australia has helped reduce waste, support local jobs, and encourage decarbonization in heavy industries. 

Alcoa Australia and Tyrecycle have taken another step in rubber recycling with the delivery of the first used conveyor belts from Alcoa’s mining operations to Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility.

The first reel of used conveyor belt from Alcoa arrived at the recycling facility on Wednesday (24 September) where the steel wire used in the belts will be reclaimed and the rubber will be turned into crumb, suitable for a range of uses including as an additive for use in road construction.

It follows the 2024 launch of an ongoing off-the-road (OTR) tyre recycling contract between Alcoa and Tyrecycle, and is part of Alcoa’s initiative to reduce, recycle and reuse waste from its mining and refining operations in WA.

According to Alcoa Global Program Manager Water and Waste, Nicole King, about 32km of used conveyor belt will be delivered to the East Rockingham facility over the coming months.

“This new opportunity will allow us to recycle 80 reels of used conveyor belt in the initial program with Tyrecycle processing about 100 tonnes a week into crumb,” Nicole said.

“That’s alongside more than 300 tonnes of our used OTR tyres a year.”

Tyrecycle Head of Trading, Mining and Strategic Development Ashley Battilana said the company focused on circular recycling solutions to allow used rubber to be converted into new, value-added products.

“Initially we’ll produce rubber crumb, like we do with tyres, that can be repurposed into a broad range of applications such as polymers for bitumen, granules used in sporting and playground surfaces, adhesives and moulded rubber products,” Ashley said.

“Our vision is to continue driving innovation so we can integrate recycled material into new conveyor belt manufacturing in the future.”

Ashley added that since its official opening in May last year, Tyrecycle’s East Rockingham facility has continued to grow and provide solutions to assist WA mining operators to decarbonise their supply chains through recycling tyres and other rubber products, which are a major waste stream across the many industry sectors.

“We’re proud to work with Alcoa, jointly supporting jobs in the region and continuing to reduce impacts on the environment,” he said.

Source: Tyrecycle

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