APM Terminals Apapa recycles used tyres into pavement blocks

Determined to reduce the harmful effects of industrial wastes on the environment, the management of APM Terminals Apapa said it has started using recycled tyres to make pavement blocks for exterior flooring.

Steen Knudsen, the terminal manager of APM Terminals Apapa, said the company is running a trial with a recycling firm named Freetown Waste Management Recycle Limited, to use pavement blocks made of recycled tyres, and potentially recycle own used tyres with them in the future.

Studies have shown that recycling of tyres helps reduce the effects of harmful chemicals on the environment, and also prevents tyres from becoming breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests like malaria mosquitoes.

Knudsen said that after the trial, APM Terminals will evaluate the sustainability of the solution.

“With all the rolling equipment that we have, we are consuming a lot of tyres on an annual basis. We are at the moment running a trial where we use recycled compressed tyres turned into pavement blocks for paving different areas of the terminal where we have pedestrian traffic,” he said.

According to him, the recycled tyres, now pavers can be easily laid on concrete floor, removed and recycled again in the future.

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Knudsen said that about 40 square metres of the pedestrian area of the terminal has been paved using the recycled tyres from the firm.

“The final goal is to have a total paved area of 580 square metres with recycled tyres turned pavers,” he said.

Knudsen reiterated the commitment of the management and staff of APM Terminals Apapa to a policy of ‘environmental excellence’ with respect to the company’s business activities in its ongoing effort to remain ‘environmentally responsible’.

Recently, APM Terminals Apapa also announced the replacement of single-use plastic bottled water with refill bottles and water dispensers, thereby eliminating an annual waste of 408,800 single-use plastic bottles at the terminal.

Klaus Laursen, the country manager of APM Terminals Nigeria, said the company takes its responsibility towards the environment very serious.

“We owe that to ourselves, our kids, and to the future,” Laursen said.

APM Terminals Apapa is the largest container terminal in West Africa. With an investment of over $438 million in equipment, the terminal has continued to introduce new innovations to help both shipping lines and landside customers achieve improved supply chain efficiency, flexibility and dependability in a cost-effective manner.