A New Life for Tired Tires
In the early 1990s, there were an estimated 2 to 3 billion tires in stockpiles across America. These discarded tires were a fire hazard and provided shelter for rodents and breeding grounds for mosquitoes, posing serious environmental and health risks.
According to the EPA, Americans are generating around 290 million scrap tires every year. Yet those stockpiles have been reduced by 90 percent. So where do they all go? What turned the tide on tires?
Tire Recycling
Thanks to efficient recycling and creative re-purposing, tire recycling is a rare environmental success story. End-of-life tires can be reused or recycled for things like railroad ties, ground cover for playgrounds, highway sound barriers, wastewater treatment filters, roofing shingles, embankment fill, tire derived fuel and rubberized asphalt concrete, which is used to pave roadways.
Combat Tire Waste
Tire recycling is, thankfully, an effective solution. But there is always room for improvement! Here are some small actions you can take to reduce tire waste and help make recycling more efficient.
- Before replacing your tires, ask if they can be retreaded or repaired
- Verify your old tires will be recycled when you have them replaced at a shop
- Dispose of used tires correctly – the requirements and process vary by location, so check with your city or waste provider for guidance
- Extend the life of your tires with regular maintenance – proper inflation, rotation and balance
- Before recycling tires, consider reusing old tires in a DIY tire project such as planters, composting bins or tire swings
Chief Commercial Officer - Nuvera Fuel Cell
5 年John thanks for the article. Did I see you mention the tire back into tire story? If not, one of the largest areas for continued growth is Michelin’s acquisition of Lehigh Technologies the largest MRP produced in the world. This we hope will drive other tire companies to pick up the ball and do something besides sitting idle and waiting. Unless there is a step change in the cost of making a tire - progress will be slow.
Professional Executive GGA MBA FCMi AIM,EC
5 年Me2
Circular Strategy for Leaders ????????????? ?????????????????? ????????? Empowering Tire, Carbon Black & Petrochemical Leaders | Follow me for Insights!
5 年John, thanks, very nice article, which has inspired some of us for a passionate discussion! There is no best tire recycling technology and technologies are not even competing because the market is big enough for all.? But tire recycling companies cannot hope to sell products on aspects of sustainability, on gate fees or on subventions, but they have to do their homework and create performing and cost-efficient products of value to their customers. I am working with devulcanisation and tire pyrolysis companies on the commercialisation of their products. Further to your comments on tire pyrolysis products I would comment that tire pyrolysis oil as fuel is an obvious possibility, but this is only a one-time thermal valorisation. Nowadays, there is huge interest in its material valorisation as feedstock for rubber softening oils, polymers or even (virgin) carbon black. The only problem is that the volumes available are still small and the tire pyrolysis companies too small to deal with the demand. Exciting times in tire recycling when we see the possibilities!
Executive level leader, business strategist, passion for circularity and sustainability, tire and rubber materials and formula expertise, tire industry expert, technical salesperson.
5 年Thanks for Magesh Nair's comments.? The Delta-Energy Group is operating an industrial scale plant and has rubber customers demanding increasing levels of recovered carbon black.? We have also been able to get approvals in a number of technically difficult applications with other customers.? The future looks very positive and a circular economy seems more feasible.? Hopefully our company will have a huge positive impact on the markets created by scrap tire materials.
Retired at no where
5 年@