Every worn truck tyre on South Africa’s roads carries more than rubber – it carries steel, carbon and potential. Mathe Group is showing how careful recycling can turn that potential into value for the environment, the transport industry and the economy.

The Hammarsdale-based radial truck tyre recycler has invested millions in a world-first clean steel mill, automated packaging line and de-beading machines, enabling hundreds of tons of steel to be exported each week to India and South Korea.

Mathe Group CEO, Dr Mehran Zarrebini, says that the clean steel investment, “will boost earnings.” Up until now, steel – around 30% of each tyre – “has been an unavoidable by-product that had to be removed before tyres could be reduced to rubber crumb for re-use. This will now become a valued second income stream, ultimately growing export earnings and creating more jobs.”

The upgrade changes the entire recycling process. Traditional de-beading damaged the steel beads, making them difficult to sell. The new machinery removes the entire bead free of rubber while keeping its geometry intact, allowing the steel to be used in blasting applications or sold at three times the price of scrap metal.

“The added bonus of additional rubber removed boosts the amount of rubber recovered from each tyre,” Dr Zarrebini adds.

The first two de-beaders are already operational, with a third on the way. Older oil-driven equipment is being retired, reducing emissions and maintenance costs.

“We are looking at material that could be potentially used in the local steel market which is under huge pressure. Right now, no steel extracted from tyres is sold locally,” he explains.

Adapting to overcome tough trading conditions

Cleaning previously took place in India, but the new in-house mill will reduce rubber contamination from 10% to less than 2% and deposit packaged steel directly into shipping containers for export via Durban port.

Increased capacity means 108 tons – at least four containers – will leave Hammarsdale each week. Dr Zarrebini says: “The new steel processing system cuts a lot of cost from the system and adds both efficiency and a further 8% of rubber crumb to the process. Although steel wasn’t initially Mathe’s main income stream, with the escalating cost and complexity of doing business, it has become an important part of the business.”

The steel extraction equipment is scheduled to be fully operational by January 2026, marking a milestone for Mathe Group and for South Africa’s tyre recycling sector.

Editor’s comment: By recovering clean steel and additional rubber crumb, the company is supporting circular economy principles, creating jobs, strengthening the freight ecosystem and contributing to export earnings – proving that environmental responsibility and commercial success can drive each other forward.

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