Case Western Reserve University student Pavel Galchenko and his partner Yohann Samarasinghe won the $50,000 Cleantech University Prize in Chicago. 

Their start-up, PVS Rubber Solutions, developed a new way to use vibrations to separate and recycle components of of rubber tires. Each year more than 100 million pounds of tire components are dumped in landfills. This technology will allow rubber tires to be recycled and enable tire manufacturers to reduce their dependence on raw rubber resources, which is environmentally harmful.  In June, Pavel will go on to the Department of Energy National Cleantech UP finals.  

Case Western Reserve University students have won this competition which pans the entire Midwest two out of the last three years. Great Lakes Energy Institute worked with Pavel and other teams to prepare for this opportunity. 

Pavel's story was covered by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Read more at cleveland.com.