TRAC and UT-PRON Launch Knowledge-Sharing Partnership to Advance Sustainable End-of-Life Tire Management and Recycling in Nigeria

The Tire and Rubber Association of Canada and Used Tyres and Producer Responsibility Organization of Nigeria (UT-PRON) signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) establishing a framework for ongoing cooperation, knowledge sharing, and capacity building initiatives to advance the development of a sustainable end-of-life tire (ELT) management and recycling system in Nigeria.

The agreement was signed by Carol Hochu, President and CEO of TRAC, and Dr. Uche Ibeh, CEO of UT-PRON, in the presence of Professor Innocent Barikor, Director General and CEO of Nigeria’s National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), following the Nigeria-Canada ELT Circularity Workshop held in Toronto and attended by representatives from NESREA, UT-PRON, TRAC, government officials, and industry stakeholders from both countries.

The workshop provided participants with a comprehensive overview of Canada’s extended and individual producer responsibility framework, regulatory oversight, collection networks, processing infrastructure, end-market development, and the lessons learned from decades of tire recycling and resource recovery experience across Canada. The workshop included presentations from North American tire recycling, regulatory, and industry experts, who shared practical insights on producer responsibility, collection systems, processing infrastructure, and market development.

Canada is widely recognized as a global leader in producer-funded end-of-life tire management programs, with more than three decades of experience developing collection, recycling, and end-market systems that support circular economy outcomes.

As part of the visit, the Nigerian delegation toured the CRM of Canada Processing ULC facility in Brantford, Ontario, one of North America’s leading crumb rubber processing operations, where participants observed firsthand how end-of-life tires are transformed into value-added products used in applications such as rubber modified asphalt, molded and extruded rubber products, and infill for synthetic turf.

The Memorandum of Collaboration

The Memorandum of Collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening technical cooperation and fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices related to producer responsibility, ELT management, recycling infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, and circular economy principles.

“TRAC is pleased to support UT-PRON and its stakeholders as they work to develop a sustainable ELT management system in Nigeria,” said Carol Hochu, President and CEO of TRAC. “Through this collaboration, we hope to facilitate meaningful knowledge exchange and share practical lessons from Canada’s experience in producer responsibility, resource recovery, and market development. We believe strong partnerships and capacity building are essential to creating circular economy solutions that deliver long-term environmental and economic benefits.”

Dr. Uche Ibeh, CEO of UT-PRON, described the agreement as an important milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to build an effective and locally appropriate tire circularity framework.

“This collaboration provides a valuable opportunity to learn from Canada’s experience while developing solutions tailored to Nigeria’s unique needs and circumstances,” said Dr. Ibeh. “The knowledge gained through this partnership will help strengthen our efforts to build collection systems, improve regulatory compliance, support recycling infrastructure, and advance the principles of the circular economy in Nigeria.”

Professor Innocent Barikor, Director General and CEO of NESREA, welcomed the collaboration between the two organizations and acknowledged the role that international partnerships can play in advancing extended producer responsibility and environmentally sound resource management.

The workshop and resulting Memorandum of Collaboration highlight the shared commitment of TRAC, UT-PRON, and NESREA to promoting sustainable resource management, strengthening institutional capacity, and supporting the responsible recovery and recycling of end-of-life tires.