La Loma, June 8, 2022
*The plant that processes rubber and steel for civil and industrial uses is the second operation of its kind in the world.
With the goal of promoting and strengthening the circular economy, doing environmentally sustainable mining, and having a positive impact on its communities of influence, Drummond Ltd. makes it possible to reuse the waste products generated by its operations.
It has a waste tire processing plant at its facilities in Cesar, operated by the contractor Duramos SAS, which has specialized for the last 16 years in managing recyclable products from the mining sector.
“Drummond hired the services of Duramos SAS with the goal of ensuring proper final disposal of its tires, making use of each sub product in accordance with the guidelines of environmental legislation,” explained Martin Ahrens, Vice President of Materials at Drummond Ltd.
The facility began operations in December 2020, creating 31 direct jobs and approximately 89 indirect jobs. Ninety-four percent of its personnel are from Drummond Ltd.’s area of influence, highlighting the company’s commitment to its communities.
Recycling process
The process to recycle tires has two basic stages. In the first stage, the tire passes through a razor to cut it down in size. Next, another machine extracts the steel bead, so the rubber can then be cut into increasingly smaller pieces.
After that, in the second stage, the pieces of rubber are shredded by two different machines, until they become small granules or strips of rubber.
“Duramos has the machinery needed to reduce the size of OTR (all-terrain) tires and process them into 10-gram pieces, giving them the potential to be turned into usable products,” commented Martin Ahrens.
The products obtained from the recycled tires are turned into raw materials (rubber and steel) that can be reused in other industries, producing great benefits for the environment.
Some of the products made from recycled tires are modified asphalt, flooring, running tracks, playground turf, and synthetic fields.
Duramos SAS has environmental and technological permits from the US company ECO Green Equipment for the ECO Razor, ECO Extractor, and ECO Shear machines. That is what gives it the capacity to recycle the world’s largest tires. The plant is prepared to process and shred OTR mining tires up to rim size 63, along with tires from trucks, cars, and motorcycles.
By using end-of-life tires, Drummond Ltd. continues to promote a circular economy in its operations, protect the environment, and prioritize sustainable activities.
“Improperly discarded old tires serve as a home for disease-carrying rodents. They also collect stagnant water that provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Recycling these end-of-life tires eliminates tire waste, while also preventing fires and the pollution of bodies of water.