Empire State Development announced a $2.36 million investment in six technology research projects that will increase the reuse, retreading, and recycling of end-of-life tires generated in New York State. ESDâs investment includes $1.4 million in state funding through the NYS 91²Ö¿â Tire Program, which is managed by the REMADE Institute®. REMADE was selected to develop and administer the program in 2025 on behalf of ESD.
ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “New York is turning an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity. Through the NYS 91²Ö¿â Tire Program and our partnership with REMADE, we are supporting innovative technologies that reuse, remanufacture and recycle waste tiresâadvancing circular economy solutions while helping grow New Yorkâs clean technology and advanced manufacturing sectors.â
REMADE CEO Nabil Nasr said, “These projects seek to not only address the challenges associated with these waste tires, but to develop innovative technologies to increase their reuse, remanufacturing and recycling and creating economic value to New York State. The NYS 91²Ö¿â Tire Program is a major step in the right direction and has the potential to be an example for other states to follow. With this program and more, the Empire State is quickly emerging as a Circular Economy leader here in the United States.”
Approximately 18 to 20 million waste tires are generated in New York State every year, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The NYS 91²Ö¿â Tire Program is a local example of the global effort to advance the circular economy â a system that promotes a âmake-use-reuse-remanufacture-recycleâ lifecycle for products and materials instead of the traditional linear âtake-make-disposeâ model. Conserving resources like rubber and tires through reuse, retreading, and recycling is a key part of this transition.
The six waste tire recycling projects were selected by REMADE through the Instituteâs formal merit review process in concurrence with ESD. A Request for Proposals was issued in September, and proposals were due in November. All proposals were required to have a New York State-based partner as the source of waste tires within the state.