Recycling Mysteries: Tires
Let’s be honest: Tires make the world go round. Unless you’re a professional speed walker, your method of transportation probably involves tires of some sort.
But these tires don’t last forever. Whether it’s an irreparable flat or loss of tread, eventually tires need to be replaced. Some tires can be retreaded for a second life, but what happens to those that are due for disposal? Let’s break down the ins and outs of recycling and properly disposing of your worn out wheels.
The Great Rubber Mountain
If you don’t see value in recycling tires, let us introduce you to the concept of stockpiles, acres of tires stacked by the thousands in one concentrated area.
In the U.S., 920 million tires were used for non-commercial vehicles on the road in 2005. On average, 290 million tires are disposed of every year. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com
Tire stockpiles can lead to a number of unpleasant situations:
- They are breeding grounds for mosquitoes and vermin, especially when they are filled with rainwater.
- They are prone to catching fire. Since tires are made largely of oil, they are difficult to extinguish (some can last for months) and produce an acrid, black smoke.
Stockpiles are of such concern that states must spend money to clean them up, and there are businesses that focus solely on collecting tires for recycling.
Fuel ‘er Up
The EPA estimates that 45 percent of all scrap tires are burned for energy, also known as tire-derived fuel (TDF). Since the average tire contains five gallons of oil, they can generate comparable energy to crude oil or coal.
More than 40 percent of TDF goes to cement kilns, but other uses include paper factories and electric companies. This means that keeping tires out of landfills affects the ground you walk on, the paper you write on and the lights in your home and office.
The trick with TDF is that tires must be shredded first, since whole tires would be too large for a furnace. Shredding recovers much of the metal in a tire, such as the rim and lead weights used for balance. The metal can be extracted and recycled, leaving crumb rubber to use as fuel.
The Dirt on Disposal
There are ways that tires can be recycled into new products, and most of these uses take place after shredding, since there is more demand for crumb rubber than whole tires.
Crumb rubber can be used as the surface for playgrounds, because its soft padding helps prevent injuries. However, there has been recent debate over this use because of the potential toxins that tires may release, including lead and mercury.
Shredded tires are also used as an additive for playing fields, since they provide a strong retaining wall that improves drainage. This leads to stronger grass and a reduced chance of field-related sports injuries.
Tires even have a purpose in construction, because rubber tends to absorb sound. Rubberized asphalt can be used to make longer lasting roads that produce less traffic noise and is popular in many states. Its absorbing qualities also makes it ideal for running tracks, causing less stress for legs.
Lastly, tires can be recycled into new tires by converting them back to synthetic rubber. This is not a common solution because of the cost involved. But in the future with improved technology, it could be a more mainstream solution.
The Next Time You Get a Flat
The most important question still remains: How do you actually recycle tires? For starters, many retailers that sell tires will accept a limited number when you make a purchase. If you’re in the market for new tires, be sure to ask if recycling your old ones is an option.
Your state may also have a waste tire plan, which would be headed by your state environmental department. Many states require recyclers to file for a permit to accept tires, so they will also know of locations that accept tires for recycling.
If you can’t find anywhere to dispose of your old tires, consider a way to reuse them. You can build a tire swing for the kids, use them as a planter in your backyard, “make sushi” or even build a house!
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(09/24/2008). "Tire-Derived Fuel" http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/tires/tdf.htm.
- Rubber Manufacturers Association "Rubber FAQs" http://www.rma.org/about_rma/rubber_faqs/.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(09/03/2009). "Ground Rubber Applications" http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/tires/ground.htm.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Recycling Mysteries: Tires « Neil’s RSS feed blogger
posted on November 2nd, 2009 at 4:20 am
[...] Earth911.com [...]
Peter D
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Trey, rewrite para. 3 under “Fuel er Up”. Lead weights are not on the tire but rather on the rim. The rim is not shreded to seperate it from the tire!
People should buy the longest lasting tire they can afford. The long a tire lasts, the more use you get out of the “core” of the tire.
Sadly, tire are still allowed to be put in landfills. It’s like throwing away buckets of oil (energy), without the water pollution.
Burton Thelander
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Very interesting article.
How can one recycle bicycle tubes and tires? I go through several a year, and would like to recycle.
Holiday Garden Gift Recycled Tire Pots : Blisstree - Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles
posted on November 10th, 2009 at 1:07 am
[...] right, and great for green advocates because tires are one of those hard to recycle items. Reusing tires for new goods isn’t the perfect option but it’s better than doing [...]
Tire Recycling | 626 Dekalb
posted on November 10th, 2009 at 10:22 am
[...] Read More Here. [...]
Deborah A Robbins
posted on November 14th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Trey- or you can manufacture great products from reycled scrap tires like we do at RubberForm Recycled Products in Lockport NY (north of Buffalo). My brother and I started this business a few eyars ago.Check us out http://www.RubberForm.com Thanks Deborah
Rocky
posted on November 19th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Recycling tires is a great thing. Rubberecycle can do two good things at once! They create Rubber Mulch which keeps our children much safer and builds up there confidence in the playgrounds! When my children come home they aren’t all muddy or complaining that they have splinters anymore!
Also Rubber Mulch is an environment friendly product recycled from 100% scrap tires.
http://www.rubberecycle.com/playground_rubber_mulch.asp – Rubberecycle installed Rubber Mulch at the White House!
Karen Manasco
posted on December 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
For those who wish to do something creative with waste, try
making a blooming tire planter.
Full instructions included. Have fun recycling!
Karen
Karen Manasco
posted on December 25th, 2009 at 9:47 am
For those who wish to do something creative with waste, try
making a blooming tire planter.
http://wuvie.net/tireplanter.htm
Full instructions included. Have fun recycling!
Karen
Charles Morrow
posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:26 am
I want to start a tire recycling business, can someone tell me where I can resell the recycled tires?
Charles Morrow
posted on February 23rd, 2010 at 7:27 am
Is there a company in Tennessee that will buy recycled tires?
Triskelion
posted on February 24th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Arent airless tires a viable solution since they tend to last longer?
James Post
posted on July 4th, 2010 at 3:04 am
Hi Trey, I live in Grenada in the Catibbean where recycling is a rare phenonemon on many islands.
Since recycling facilities are practically unavailable the only option seems to be to export items for recycling to i.e. the US. As containers to the Caribbean mostly return empty it must be possible to strike a deal with shipping lines to ship at a sharply reduced price. I have decide to research the feasibility of exporting for recycling as a community service.project for our ECO resort.
For this purpose I would like to get in touch with recycling centres to learn about the conditions when recycable tyres are shipped to Miami.
This concept would not be limited to tyres Steel waste is also a potential export recycable.
Recycle centres in the Miami area please contact me at info@paradisebayresort.net
Francis Couture
posted on February 25th, 2011 at 8:45 am
There’s another application for used tires, they can be reuse to build mat and mattress for the animal world and that’s what we do here at animat.
Keep up this great information site.