Liberty Tire Recycling and Walmart Recognized with Recircle Award for Circular Economy Collaboration

According to a press release published by Liberty Tire Recycling on May 28, the company, in collaboration with Walmart, has been awarded the 2025 Recircle Award for Circular Economy Innovation. The award, which honors achievements in sustainable practices within the global tire and rubber industry, recognizes the companies’ long-standing partnership in building a closed-loop system for tire recycling.

The Recircle Awards, established to spotlight best practices in tire manufacturing, recycling, and retreading, selected Liberty Tire Recycling and Walmart for their joint efforts in transforming end-of-life tires into consumer goods and infrastructure solutions. The collaboration exemplifies how cross-industry partnerships can effectively reduce environmental impact while promoting resource regeneration.

Liberty Tire Recycling, headquartered in Pittsburgh, has reportedly worked with Walmart for over 20 years. The partnership initially began with the collection of used tires from Walmart stores but has expanded significantly in recent years. Around six years ago, Liberty began manufacturing consumer products such as rubber mulch, patio tiles, and garden edging from recycled tires, which are now available in Walmart’s retail channels.

According to Liberty Tire Recycling’s website, the company processes over 215 million used tires annually and maintains a recovery rate of approximately 81.1%. It has set a public goal of achieving zero-waste operations by 2030. The partnership with Walmart plays a key role in reaching that target.

A recently completed project at Walmart Store #101 in Rolla, Missouri, has drawn attention as a model for sustainable infrastructure. As reported by Liberty, more than 1,200 end-of-life tires, 420 gallons of used motor oil, and 170 tons of reclaimed asphalt were used to repave part of the store’s parking lot using rubberized asphalt—a method praised for its durability and environmental benefits.

In a statement included in the announcement, Amy Brackin, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Liberty Tire Recycling, emphasized the importance of collaboration. “Working with forward-thinking retailers like Walmart committed to regenerative growth is critical to helping us reach that goal,” she said.

The partnership also supports Walmart’s broader sustainability goals. According to Walmart’s environmental initiatives, the company aims to reduce one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by 2030 under its “Project Gigaton” program, with circular product systems playing a significant role.

Source: Liberty Tire Recycling