Car duo turn to tyres
WILL the Wrecker is heading down a new road – he plans to become Will the Shredder.
Will Smith, 81, is poised to plough millions of dollars into a business that will shred and recycle scrap tyres.
He has just concluded a deal with a Canadian group that gives him the Australian rights to technology that enables old tyres to be turned into everything from terracotta and sandstone-look pavers to building blocks.
Spokesman Michael Yarwood said Mr Smith was teaming up with another Gold Coast recycling industry figure, Adrian Fuller, to build a factory in the Yarra Valley in Victoria that was expected to provide 200 jobs.
“Will comes from Victoria and has opted to go there after failing to elicit any interest from the Gold Coast council.”
Mr Smith has been at loggerheads with the council for years over the state of his Reedy Creek car-wrecking yard.
He stored thousands of vehicles in the yard but it shrank last year when much of the land was bought by the State Government for $9.1 million.
The Smith wrecking business, synonymous with a pink FX Holden on the balcony of a ramshackle house beside the Pacific Highway, still operates from the front 4000sq m of the site.
Mr Yarwood said it was during decommissioning of his yard that Mr Smith realised the scrap-tyre problem.
“Some 4500 cars were destroyed, leaving him with 18,000 tyres to get rid of.
“Will’s not one to throw anything away without first making sure it can’t be used.
“He started looking at viable options – current recycled rubber products are flimsy and there’s no guarantee that they won’t break down and ultimately find their way into stormwater drains and landfill.”
Discussions were initiated with the Alberta-based EcoFlex group 18 months ago and Mr Smith signed an agreement with the group a fortnight ago.