Across the Southeastern United States, state-level policy changes are helping accelerate investment in tire recycling infrastructure and technology. One of the companies responding to this momentum is Liberty Tire Recycling, which has committed roughly $1.4 million to upgrade equipment at its North Carolina facility.
The investment comes as North Carolina implements SB 706, a law that directs tire disposal fees back into the state’s scrap tire management program. Much of that funding will reimburse counties for the costs of collecting and recycling end-of-life tires. As support grows at the policy level, North Carolina is quickly becoming an important location for tire recycling activity.
Liberty also announced plans to open two new facilities in Alabama after the state decided to stop landfilling whole tires. These changes create both environmental benefits and new opportunities for recovery-driven businesses.
At Liberty’s Cameron site, the new equipment is expected to increase capacity by about 3,300 tons, equal to nearly 300,000 passenger tires each year. The upgrades will also allow the company to process more truck tires. While demand for recycled rubber from truck tires continues to rise, their thicker structure and reinforced steel make them more challenging to handle.
Once processed, the material is transformed into crumb rubber. This versatile product is used in items such as floor tiles and mats, as well as walking paths, playground and athletic surfaces, synthetic turf systems, rubberized roads, and molded products.
Liberty currently operates three North Carolina locations along with a corporate office. The company recently entered a new phase of growth when I Squared Capital acquired it from Energy Capital Partners. According to I Squared, future plans include expanding the company’s footprint and investing in automation and advanced technologies.
Beyond operations, Liberty also highlighted its community involvement. Ahead of the holiday season, the company reported raising more than $132,000 in 2025 to support Blessings in a Backpack, a nonprofit organization working to reduce childhood hunger across the United States.
As more states revisit waste policies and emphasize circular material systems, investments like these point toward a future where fewer tires end up in landfills and more resources are kept in productive use.
