AKO Group Recovers 75,000 Tons of Waste Tires

AKO Grup Recovers 75,000 Tons of Scrap Tires Annually ISTANBUL (AA) - AKO Grup, which established an End-of-Life Tire (ELT) Recycling Facility, recovers 75,000 tons of scrap tire waste annually while preventing it from entering the environment. According to a statement from AKO Grup, rapidly growing scrap tire stockpiles are becoming a major environmental problem in Turkey as they are worldwide. When scrap tires are incinerated for disposal, toxic gases are released. When left untreated, they remain in the environment for years and contaminate water resources, harming the environment. Recycling processes are gaining importance to minimize these negative effects of scrap tires and reduce costs. At the End-of-Life Tire Recycling Facility established by AKO Grup, 75,000 tons of scrap tire waste is recycled annually. The company ensures that one-quarter of the tire waste generated in Turkey in one year is recycled, converting these waste materials entirely into qualified raw materials for Turkish industry. At the facility, tires are sorted by their properties and processed in high-technology integrated systems, converting them into qualified raw materials for various industrial sectors, particularly the tire industry and automotive supply industry.

Aim to reduce import dependency

Turkish industrial establishments import tons of recycled rubber-based raw materials annually. With the facility established through AKO Grup's investment, obtaining this raw material through waste conversion and reducing import dependency in strategic sectors in this area through import substitution is also targeted. The facility's raw material production is expected to contribute approximately USD 16 million annually to the country's economy in controlling the current account deficit. The R&D and patent work used in this specific investment stands out not only for its economic returns but also for providing technological contributions to Turkish industry. The facility, established with a USD 30 million investment, reduces carbon emissions in addition to its contributions to the Zero Waste Project and the country's economy. With the facility's operation, annual savings of 834,000 tons in carbon emissions are expected, preventing carbon emissions equivalent to 250,000 trees per year.   ISTANBUL (AA)