HOW TO COOK UP A TYRE BY RECYCLING WASTE OIL

A FEW YEARS ago, there was a fad for putting filtered used cooking oil in diesel cars in place of pump diesel, which caused a degree of alarm among manufacturers of modern diesels.

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Today, after years of research and development, B7 pump diesel (containing up to 7% biodiesel) is available on forecourts, can include used cooking oil as a raw material and is safe to use in diesels.

Now tyre companies are also turning their attention to used cooking oil in the manufacture of new tyres.

Continental, for instance, is using cooking oil to make synthetic rubber. The firm says it is ramping up its commitment to a circular economy, which in practical terms means using as many recycled and recyclable materials as possible.

Many raw materials including steel, textiles, carbon black and silica go into the making of tyres.