Get Sust! Issue 30

Recycling tyres into roof tiles

Crumb Rubber Ltd and Queen Mary University in London have successfully developed and tested an innovative tiling material using recycled rubber from used tyres.

The research team investigated the behaviour of various common waste plastics when blended with rubber powder derived from post-consumer tyres, then they developed a new replica slate roofing tile incorporating a high percentage of recycled material.

The composite replica slate has now been field-tested at the new offices of the Airport Business Centre (ABC), Plymouth, and the research team are confident that it is able to meet the requirements of the UK building industry at a cost competitive with natural slate and other synthetic roofing products (which generally range from £0.80 upwards per unit for natural slate, and £0.60 to £1.75 for synthetic slate products). And they say that its lightness, shatter resistance, durability, ease of fixing and aesthetic appeal should give the product several advantages over slate.

The next step is to commercialise the slate, including a battery of tests in order to achieve the various certifications needed for the UK market.

Learn more:

	•	The study was funded by WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme. A full report on the findings of the research trial is available on the WRAP website and can be downloaded at www.wrap.org.uk/applications/publications.
	•	See also www.wrap.org.uk/construction/tyres.