Tyre pyrolysis -Recycling Group 2016 - Auckland

Written By Valerie Morse

Status of the project:

Five year pilot consent granted by Auckland Council in January 2026 to Recycling Group 2016 Company Ltd (RRAL) operate a tyre waste pyrolysis plant.

Background to the project: 

  • This is the renewal of consents originally granted by Auckland Council. Three previous short-term air-discharge consents were held by RRAL between July 2013 and February 2022 (numbers [NRSI]41466, [WCC]REG-2015-1843, and DIS60325762). The site has a longer history of tyre pyrolysis trials which were attempted by Tyregone Processors Limited (Tyregone) between 2008-2011.

  • The address is 7 & 15 Bancroft Crescent in Glendene.

  • There are two vessels capable of handling 8T of tyres each.

  • The applicant initially sought to include soft plastics as a feedstock but that was not carried through to the consenting

  • The applicant had a diesel generator attached to the pyrolysis chamber to use the pyrolysis oil directly. This was explicitly prohibited in the new consent conditions.

  • The operator was issued an abatement notice in 2025 as the consent had expired, and odour complaints were being made.

Campaign updates:

January ZWA has written to Auckland Council outlining two concerns and we are continuing to consider avenues for action. We are concerned that the Air Quality Assessment does not mention an obvious and well-documented pollutant from the pyrolysis of tires: Polyaromatic Hyrdocarbons (PAH) which are precursors to dioxin formation. 

PAH formation from the pyrolysis of waste tires in a non-oxidizing environment is inevitable. While PAHs themselves are harmful organic pollutants, their thermal degradation and transformation in the presence of chlorine at temperatures between 200°C and 450°C can result in the formation of highly toxic dioxins. 

The conditions of consent do not include PAH nor dioxin in the air testing regime. 

A second material inaccuracy in the application is that the only specified feedstocks in this application, tyres, are now subject to a nationwide regulated product stewardship scheme that requires, by law, all processors to be registered in order to receive tyres

The applicant is not a registered member of the Tyrewise scheme.

The regulation covers all pneumatic (air-filled) and solid tyres for use on motorised vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, aircraft, trailers, and off-road vehicles. Tyres for most agricultural machinery are also included.

A regular supply of tyres covered by the scheme is not legally available for use in this proposal.

Valerie Morse
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