As demand grows for smarter, greener recycling solutions, Waste Initiatives is leading the charge in rubber and tyre recovery – backing everyone from first-time operators to major mining players.
With expertise honed over four decades, Waste Initiatives is delivering tailored, technology-driven systems that cater to the unique demands of tyre and rubber recovery.
It offers an end-to-end equipment solution that helps clients turn waste into opportunity – from mining, passenger and truck tyres to conveyor belts.
Sales Manager Shannon Sangster says Waste Initiatives is seeing an increase in demand for tyre recycling equipment, particularly systems that offer lower total cost of ownership and ease of maintenance.
“We have two different types of machinery – systems for businesses just entering the market, and premium solutions that offer high efficiency and low cost per tonne,” Shannon says.
Growing awareness around sustainability, government interest and shareholder expectations are key forces behind the growing demand, according to Equipment Specialist Brenton Sargeant.
“There’s more pressure on companies – especially those in mining and heavy industry – to meet sustainability targets. Even though they can still legally bury off-the-road (OTR) tyres in some states, there’s a strong push towards more responsible solutions,” Brenton says.
Waste Initiatives partners with leading global brands to offer high-performance equipment, including American-made Barclay shredders and Eagle International’s mobile OTR tyre processing systems. Both are proving popular with Australian recyclers and councils.
Barclay’s premium shredders, for example, stand out for their energy efficiency and durability.
“They use a segmented blade system with a very tight tolerance – under 0.1 millimetre – and it works like a scissor rather than a hook and shear,” Brenton says. “That means you can reduce your power and still achieve 12 to 15 tonnes per hour at 150-millimetre chip size, using only 75 kilowatts.”
That performance has earned Barclay a strong reputation in the local market. Shannon notes that tyre recycler Tyrecycle, among others, has adopted multiple Barclay units after trialling several brands.
For processing larger tyres on mining sites, Waste Initiatives supplies Eagle equipment, prized for its safety, mobility and capacity.
“It’s on semi-trailer-style running gear – you hook it up to your prime mover and move it from site to site or stockpile to stockpile,” says Shannon. “It’s built for that purpose, so you don’t need a crane or loader to move it.”
Recognising a gap in the market, Waste Initiatives also supplies its line of WastePac shredders – entry-level machines manufactured to local specifications and safety standards.
“We want to provide people who are first starting in business with a risk-free avenue into the recycling market,” says Shannon. “If you’re mortgaging your house to start a business, you want to know we’re going to be here in Australia with our technicians and own parts to back that up.”
The WastePac range is suitable for those establishing operations with limited capital, with installation, commissioning and after-sales support included.
“We walk into your empty factory and leave you with a fully functioning plant,” says Shannon. “That’s critical because often this equipment is the heart of the business.”
Some customers have moved from WastePac to Barclay equipment as they scale.
“We’ve had clients start small, grow their business, and then come back to us to upgrade to premium machines,” says Brenton. “They know we’ll still be here to support them at every stage.”
With cost pressures mounting across the recycling sector, low operating expenses have become a critical selling point. Brenton says Barclay’s electric shredders can dramatically cut energy bills and carbon footprints.
“They operate with low horsepower and are efficient, quiet, and easy to maintain,” he says. “With the patented knife design, you can use a single 75-kilowatt motor, which significantly reduces power usage while still providing higher throughput, comparative to other diesel and electric shredders with higher power requirements.
“Because they’re built to last 15–20 years you’re reducing waste from parts replacement (the Cru- Wear tool steel blades can be sharpened when worn), and being electric you’re reducing emissions compared to diesel use,” adds Shannon.
Barclay systems also support a variety of outputs – from 150-millimetre tyre chips for export to finer sizes for tyre-derived fuel (TDF).
Brenton says the Barclay shears the rubber instead of ripping the tyres apart. The resulting shreds are clean-cut without protruding wires that can snag material handling equipment.
“We can process down to 30–35 millimetres using the same blade system,” Shannon says. “That efficiency makes smaller output sizes more viable in the domestic market too.”
Waste Initiatives is working with a growing list of industry leaders and local governments across Australia, including ELT Recycling, Shoalhaven City Council, Green Care Mulching, and Green Tyre Recycling. Several of these partners are operating multiple shredders across multiple sites – some using Barclay for high-throughput processing, and others using Eagle for large-scale OTR downsizing on mine sites.
Brenton says the Eagle OTR debeader is purpose-built for high-volume, OTR tyre processing – handling sizes up to R63 with ease. One has been deployed by Veolia to a BHP site, and is processing up to 100 tyres (R45-R63) per day, removing both beads from a single side. This reduces handling time, improves operator safety, and streamlines downstream processing.
The unit is trailer-mounted, making it fully mobile and rapidly deployable without the need for permanent foundations or concrete pads. Available in diesel or electric configurations, it can be easily positioned at remote stockpiles or integrated into centralised operations. Built to meet stringent mine site safety standards, it includes guarding, emergency stops, and lockout systems.
When paired with the Titan II Tyre Cutter, this combination delivers a complete, onsite downsizing solution.
“The Titan II’s high-torque shear efficiently cuts through OTR tyres, including tread and sidewalls, reducing bulk and preparing material for further processing or transport,” Brenton says. “Its robust hydraulic system and reinforced blades are built to handle the toughest tyres. Together, the Eagle debeader and Titan II cutter deliver a proven, mine-ready system – reducing costs, improving safety, and eliminating the need for costly tyre transport or manual handling.”
For Shannon and Brenton, it’s about more than machines – it’s about supporting businesses to succeed and communities to thrive.
“What gets me out of bed in the morning is the vision of enhancing our communities,” says Shannon.
“Whether that’s giving people the ability to support their families, give to charity, or make a difference to the environment – we want to give them a pathway to do that. And the way we do it is by helping them optimise waste streams and create a sustainable legacy.”
For more information, visit:
www.wasteinitiatives.com.au
