For decades, K&S Tire Recycling has stood as the Midwest's largest independent tire recycler, turning millions of discarded tires into reusable, high-value materials every year. From rubber mulch and asphalt additives to tire-derived fuels, K&S has been at the forefront of closing the loop in the circular economy long before "sustainability" became a buzzword.
Now, the company is redefining what industrial sustainability means—this time through clean energy. K&S Tire Recycling has officially matched 100% of its annual electricity use with renewable power from local community solar farms across Illinois, marking a powerful step forward in both environmental and economic leadership.
Powering Progress: Clean Energy Meets Circular Industry
Every year, K&S processes millions of tires that would otherwise end up in landfills or illegal dumps. This work already prevents thousands of tons of carbon emissions, but K&S wanted to take it further—by addressing the energy footprint of its own operations.
Through Illinois' community solar program, K&S is now sourcing the equivalent of 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable electricity annually. Over the course of its 15-year subscription, this adds up to 30,000,000 kWh—enough clean energy to power 3,000 average Illinois homes. This renewable match ensures that the electricity driving K&S's recycling machinery, conveyors, and facilities is backed by solar generation right here in the state.
For a company built on sustainability, this move completes the loop.
Real Savings, Real Impact
While the environmental value is clear, the economic benefits are just as compelling. By going solar through local community projects, K&S Tire Recycling will save an average of $17,058 per year, adding up to over a quarter-million dollars in savings across 15 years.
Those funds can be channeled back into equipment upgrades, job creation, and new innovations in tire recycling technology—proving that sustainability isn't just an environmental win, it's a smart financial strategy.
Driving Local Growth Through Clean Energy
K&S's partnership with Illinois-based community solar projects does more than lower energy bills—it directly fuels local economic growth.
By sourcing energy locally, K&S helps:
- Generate skilled jobs in solar construction and operations
- Provide stable income streams to Illinois landowners hosting solar arrays
- Keep millions of dollars circulating within the state economy
For every kilowatt-hour produced, community solar strengthens the link between clean power and local prosperity—a relationship that mirrors the same community values K&S has upheld for decades.
A Model for the Recycling Industry
The implications go far beyond one company. If every recycling and materials recovery facility in Illinois embraced community solar the way K&S has, the results would be transformative:
- Over 100 million kWh of renewable energy could be produced annually
- The sector could collectively save millions of dollars in operating costs
- Emissions reductions would rival removing tens of thousands of cars from the road every year
K&S's example demonstrates that clean energy isn't just compatible with heavy industry—it's the next frontier for it.
A Historic Step Toward Renewable Recycling
This initiative represents a landmark moment for renewable adoption in the recycling sector. By powering its operations with solar energy generated locally, K&S is proving that industrial-scale sustainability can be achieved without compromise—balancing environmental responsibility, economic sense, and operational reliability.
K&S has built its reputation on turning waste into value. Now, it's doing the same with energy—turning sunlight into savings, progress, and purpose.
From Tires to Tomorrow
The story of K&S Tire Recycling has always been about innovation. From its early days processing used tires by hand to its present-day role as a Midwest sustainability leader, K&S has never stopped finding better ways to do the right thing for people and the planet.
By embracing community solar, K&S is closing the sustainability circle—ensuring that every tire recycled, every watt consumed, and every job created contributes to a cleaner, stronger, and more sustainable Illinois.
And that's a future worth driving toward.
