Tire Recycling Foundation Honors Circular Economy Leaders with Inaugural Circle of Change Awards
The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF) has announced the winners of its inaugural Circle of Change Awards, recognizing organizations and partnerships that are advancing innovative and sustainable solutions for end-of-life tires. Presented during the 10th Tire Recycling Conference in Denver, the awards celebrate projects that demonstrate how recycled tire materials can create economic value while strengthening infrastructure and protecting the environment.
According to the Tire Recycling Foundation, the winning initiatives highlight the growing role of recycled tire materials in transportation, construction and manufacturing. Stephanie Mull, Executive Director of the TRF, emphasized that every end-of-life tire represents an opportunity to create value for communities through innovation, collaboration and circular economy principles.
The Circular Economy Trailblazer Award was presented to North Carolina's Scrap Tire Program Modernization, which has introduced a modern funding framework to improve county tire collection, reduce illegal dumping and promote the use of tire-derived materials in transportation and public infrastructure projects.
The Innovation in End-Use Technology Award recognized the collaboration between LHB Engineering and the Saint Paul Port Authority. Their redevelopment of the former Midway Stadium site in Minnesota incorporates approximately 30,000 cubic yards of tire-derived aggregate (TDA) into an underground stormwater management system, helping protect the Mississippi River while demonstrating a scalable application for recycled tire materials.
The Market Development Excellence Award was awarded to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) together with its public and private sector partners. The initiative has successfully demonstrated the performance of tire-derived aggregate, rubber-modified asphalt and porous pavement systems, helping accelerate the adoption of recycled tire materials across infrastructure projects.
The Value Chain Collaboration Award went to Bolder Industries and Pirelli Tire LLC for establishing a fully traceable closed-loop recycling system. The partnership converts manufacturing scrap tires into recovered carbon black, which is then reintroduced into new tire production, reducing emissions, conserving raw materials and showcasing a commercially viable circular manufacturing model.
TRF President Dick Gust noted that the winning projects demonstrate how closely tire recycling has become integrated into real-world decision-making. By bringing together recyclers, manufacturers, engineers, transportation agencies and government organizations, the projects illustrate how collaboration can expand markets for recycled tire materials while delivering measurable environmental and economic benefits.
With the launch of the Circle of Change Awards, the Tire Recycling Foundation aims to establish a national platform for recognizing innovation, market development and leadership in tire recycling. The foundation hopes the program will encourage further investment in sustainable end-of-life tire management and accelerate the transition toward a circular tire economy across the United States.