We all look for ways to find the most valuable deals when we need new tires. But few of us wonder what to do with them AFTER they have served their purpose. All tires have a certain expiry date, of course. And the time comes when you will have to part with them once and for all. The question is what will you do with them?
Many drivers sell them on the second-hand market once they start to show signs of wear. But what happens when the tires are no longer for sale? What options do you have when they exceed the recommended term of use and become irreparable?
Unfortunately, many car owners see only one solution: they throw the used tires somewhere in a landfill without thinking about the consequences. And the negative consequences on the environment are huge.
The good side of things is that the world is gradually becoming more aware. And this means that the reuse of tires is increasingly common among car lovers. Each of us can contribute to improving the environment by properly disposing of tires and recycling them. And you don't have to be a car owner to make your contribution. It is important to have an interest in protecting the environment and to take action.
Tire recycling: what is it and why is it necessary?
You will find many sources that refer to "tire recycling" as "rubber recycling". You can use any term you like. The idea is that both refer to the process of re-using rubber from vehicles that can no longer fulfill their basic function for some reason. According to statistical data, tires that are no longer good present one of the biggest challenges in the field of recycling.
But, thanks to certain recycling systems, the tires find their purpose in something else, being re-processed to serve other purposes. So, when we talk about tire recycling, we are actually referring to a process of converting tires that no longer serve into other materials that can still serve.
In the same context...
Possibly, you'll ask now what is the purpose of such a convoluted process. But if you think about the general amount of tires that go out of use, it is not difficult to deduce that the landfills where they are thrown become gigantic. Tires do not degrade. And with recycling processes, these waste tire fields will get bigger and bigger. In addition to the number of used tires, there is also the aspect of environmental pollution. Rubber presents a massive threat to the environment. And what is the meaning of not being concerned about it, if it is the environment in which we all live?
So, recycling is also a method of protection that we take against the pollution of the environment, which is already very fragile. Besides, how could we deal with the 250 million tires thrown away annually, if we didn't recycle them?
So, yes, recycling makes sense from all points of view. Add to this that rubber is actually a necessary material for other industries and we only have a win-win situation.
Tire recycling process
I hope that the arguments in favor of tire recycling have motivated you enough to take action. The question is how do you do it right? In fact, the whole process is not exactly simple and many lose their motivation because of the effort required in the process. However, you can do it all only if you really want it. And if you really want to become useful to the environment, you can find out right now what the tire recycling process is. I hope you find the process fun and maybe you too align with the common goals.
Step No.1: everything starts with the collection
Of course, the first step is the collection of used tires; it cannot be done otherwise. Various non-governmental organizations, as well as certain businesses, collect non-functional tires to subject them to a further recycling process.
As far as I know, it doesn't really matter the size or wear of the tires. Once they are processed, they turn into a homogeneous mass of rubber which then takes the shape of other objects.
Step No. 2: rubber processing follows
Step 2 depends a lot on the final result to be obtained after tire recycling. Some industries need shredded rubber. For this purpose, recyclers will use mechanical tools. Other industries need tiny rubber chips. For this purpose, recyclers use cryogenic techniques. These techniques involve the use of liquid nitrogen that cools the tires to low temperatures, after which they crumble them into tiny particles with the help of special tools.
In the same context, some industries need steel components from tires (like steel wires). Accordingly, the recyclers will use special magnets or other tools to separate the tire from the steel components. Thus, depending on the final purpose, the tire turns into a raw material for other products.
Step No. 3: cleaning and using it
After the recyclers use the methods mentioned above, all they have to do is thoroughly clean the materials obtained after processing. They use different chemical agents to remove impurities from the obtained materials. Then, the material is packed and sent to the factories that need it. Without realizing it, many goods that surround us are the result of recycled tires. The industries that produce rubber shoes or playground turfs are among the many that use recycled rubber as raw material.
I recommend that you look around you and identify at least 5 rubber objects. Think that they could be processed specifically from your used tires. Respectively, you would bring a significant contribution to the environment as well as to the industries that need rubber raw material. Find out about used tire collection centers in your area. We can change the world by taking action.
Proper tire disposal
Another important aspect that should concern us all is proper tire disposal. By finding out about disposal possibilities, you give the tires a new life in which they can serve other purposes. In general, tire recycling is the best thing you can do after they are no longer functional. Many tire dealers are ready to accept them for recycling, so I encourage you to contact them directly. If recycling is not a solution, then proper disposal is.
Being a fair citizen regarding your civil responsibilities, you will be pleased to know that there are many disposal and recycling companies ready to help you dispose of your tires correctly and efficiently. If this idea cannot be realized for several reasons, then think about giving the tires a second chance. How can you do it? Here you have some recommendations.
Playgrounds, Zoos, or Sports Parks
The environment around you certainly needs a used tire. You just have to find the right place and purpose for it. Instead of throwing the tire in a landfill, it would better serve in the recreation areas near you. With the right arrangement, they can serve as stairs for children in parks. Athletes can use them for different physical activities in their training process. Animals have plenty of fun fooling around tire holes in zoos.
So, they can be more useful than you imagine. And there is no need to reinvent the wheel. It is enough just to donate your tires to the people responsible for these areas.
DIY purposes
If you do a little Pinterest research, you will be amazed to see how many ways you can use a tire. Plant holders, table bases, tire swings, sandboxes, couches, or outdoor bars: all of them are possible with tires. You only need to have a small garden or a small yard behind the house and you can turn it into a real corner of heaven with the help of your creativity and ... your tires.
Take them to the local recycling center
It is very welcome to find out if the area where you live has a recycling center. Most likely it has. These centers usually collaborate with different industries that need rubber as a raw material. Consequently, these centers deliver them to the factories that need them. In the end, your tires end up being useful for fuel, asphalt, and railroad ties. You can't even imagine how valuable tires are for these centers that are the link between you as a donor and the final industries.
The advantages of tire proper disposal and recycling
You have already understood that your tires can bring a more important contribution via recycling than by throwing them in a landfill. However, this is not the only benefit. Let's see what other advantages are likely with tire disposal and recycling.
Landfills are no longer over-filled with tires
Tires are usually bulky and voluminous. And when they are thrown into landfills, they take up a lot of space. Due to the recycling and correct disposal of tires, landfills become cleaner and the total volume of tires significantly diminishes.
Taking into account the fact that the tires are not biodegradable, they are an eminent danger for living creatures that feed on these landfills. In the same context, the large volume of discarded tires ends up blocking the water drainage channels, as well as polluting them. The more we recycle, the more we minimize these negative effects.
Reduces Disease Spread
Many people do not even realize the impact that landfills with used tires have on the spread of various diseases. Tires store the water that becomes infected. Different rodents, mosquitoes, and other animals use this water, after which they come into contact with the surfaces we touch. Thus, it is very likely that we get infected by various diseases, without even knowing the exact cause.
These risks are also valid for those who are used to keeping the tires at home. For this reason, the best idea is to find an optimal recycling or disposal method.
Prevents air pollution through fire
Many industries indeed use rubber as fuel. However, they process it using special techniques, as a result of which its burning is not so dangerous. However, if we talk about the burning of the tires in the condition they are in, they are very harmful to the air.
Throughout history, there have been many cases where tire storage areas caught fire for some reason. And the consequences were drastic after the air pollution. Once we decide to recycle or dispose of the tires judiciously, we significantly reduce the risk of an atmospheric catastrophe.
Goods from recycled tires
Many times I have mentioned that tires can serve many purposes, without us even realizing it. If we look carefully around, we discover many things that actually contain recycled tires.
One of the industries that use them to a large extent is the construction industry. it uses tires as backfill for walls, or in sound barrier systems, for example. Other industries that use tires as raw materials are those that produce movable speed bumps, carpet padding, or railroad crossing blocks.
So...
As you can see, tires that have already served their primary purpose can be both harmful and very useful to the environment. It depends on us, as responsible people, if they will have a beneficial or negative role. The recycling and disposal process is not as complex as it might seem. What is really complex are the consequences that are yet to come if we do nothing and continue to throw them somewhere on the side of the road.
I think that when we decide to buy a car including tires, we commit ourselves to certain responsibilities. One of them is the disposal of car components as befits a responsible citizen. So let's all be responsible and set a good example for the next generations.
Final thoughts
I believe that the life of a tire does not end when its expiry date comes. On the contrary, it becomes ready for other purposes. We must take care that these purposes are as beneficial as possible for the environment in which we live. So, recycle and dispose of your tires wisely!