Last Updated on November 30, 2024
How to Recycle Tires Responsibly
It might be hard to comprehend, but over 2.5 billion car tires are produced and sold globally each year. With the rising number of vehicles on the road, industry experts estimate that annual car tire production will exceed 2.7 billion units by 2026. At the same time, over 1.1 billion worn-out car tires are discarded each year, which immensely affects the environment. These staggering numbers highlight the massive scale of the car tire industry, its significant contribution to global pollution, and the critical importance of recycling and properly disposing of end-of-life tires. Today, we will talk about how to recycle your tires and what to do with them when they are no longer safe.
What To Do With Worn-Out Tires?
When a tire reaches the end of its life or is damaged beyond repair, there is only one thing to do: get rid of it. But what is the best way to do it so you don’t produce more waste and properly dispose of it? There are a couple of options.
1) Locate The Tire Recycling Center
Many local governments operate dedicated tire recycling centers, often located near large urban areas. These centers are designed to accept old tires and turn them into usable materials. You can search online for a facility near you and drop the old set of worn-out rubber there.
2) Local Landfills
Some landfills are equipped for recycling or safe disposal. This is also a safe and convenient way to get rid of old tires.
3) Leave It At The Tire Shop Or Dealer
Probably the most convenient way to dispose of old tires is to leave them with the car dealer or tire shop where you just mounted a fresh set of tires. Many dealers and dedicated tire shops will accept your old tires and then take them to recycling centers or landfills. If you are unaware of this practice, you can always check by phone, but almost all shops will accept them.
4) Repurpose It
Car tires are made from sturdy materials that remain durable and tough long after you remove them from your wheels. This has inspired many DIY enthusiasts to repurpose rubber for creative uses. You have probably seen outdoor equipment, swings for kids, pieces of furniture, or planters made of old tires. There is no limit to what you can do with old rubber, and the list of uses is endless.
What Not To Do With Old Car Tires?
Due to significant environmental issues regarding discarded car tires, many local governments have come up with legislation regarding the disposal. In some areas, improperly disposing of worn-out car tires is illegal, which could result in fines. This includes not only discarding old tires in fields or rivers but also burning them. Burning the tires is not just the most terrible way of disposing due to excessive amounts of poisonous smoke being released into the atmosphere but also due to fire risks. Burning rubber is notoriously difficult to extinguish and can lead to large-scale fires and severe damage.
What Happens To The Old Tires When You Recycle Them?
When an old tire reaches the recycling center, it gets shredded into small pieces, and from there, the material is used in several ways. The rubber is commonly used for playground surfaces and running tracks due to its durability and elasticity. Recycled rubber is also used for insulation, road construction, or transformed into various other rubber products. An advanced tire recycling method called pyrolysis uses high temperatures to break down rubber into oil, gas, and char, which are repurposed into new products.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to recycle or repurpose old car tires. You can repurpose them for creative DIY projects at home or safely discard them with minimal environmental impact. You can safely discard them with minimal risk to the environment. However, avoid simply discarding or burning them, as it is both harmful to the environment and likely illegal.
