| Under European law it is no longer possible to dump | | | | Tyre Disposal |
| car tyres into landfill sites which means we have to | | | | The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) was set up in |
| find a solution to the problem of what to do with old | | | | 2004 and operates a responsible recycler scheme |
| tyres when they have reached the end of their life. | | | | which aims to ensure that all their members dispose |
| According to the Lets Recycle website, there were | | | | of tyres in a way that is environmentally friendly. This |
| nearly half a million tonnes of waste tyres generated | | | | could mean recycling them, reprocessing them or |
| in 2004 and more than half of these were either | | | | finding another use for them. Most tyre retailers are |
| recycled or reused, some 15% were also used as | | | | using registered members of the TRA to collect and |
| fuel, 7% exported and 6% used in landfill | | | | dispose of their old tyres and will often display a |
| construction. However, nearly 59000 tonnes still | | | | certificate so that you can be sure they are dealing |
| ended up in landfill which was a waste of a resource, | | | | with old tyres responsibly, however, if you don't |
| a fire hazard, and a threat to the environment. As | | | | know for sure just ask them. |
| more and more people become car owners, the | | | | Although most tyres are disposed of properly by |
| problem of what to do with used tyres is set to | | | | responsible citizens, there are still some people who |
| continue. | | | | choose to dump their tyres illegally in the countryside, |
| Tyres are classed as 'controlled waste' so there is a | | | | particularly as the removal and disposal of old tyres |
| Duty of Care placed on waste producers to dispose | | | | usually involves a small fee. Dumping tyres illegally is |
| of old tyres responsibly and in an environmentally | | | | not only harmful to the environment; it is also unfair |
| friendly way. The EU landfill directive banned the | | | | on the others who choose to dispose of their old |
| dumping of whole used tyres in 2003 and now even | | | | tyres in the proper manner. |
| shredded tyres cannot be deposited in landfill sites. | | | | What happens to old tyres? |
| The only exceptions to this are new tyres, tyres | | | | There are many ways that old tyres can be disposed |
| with a diameter larger than 1400 mm and bicycle | | | | of responsibly and these include the following: |
| tyres, which can still be disposed of in landfill sites. | | | | Landfill Construction |
| One thing you as a consumer can do is to extend | | | | Tyres can be used as part of a Leachate draining |
| the life of your tyres and collectively over time this | | | | system in landfill sites, although only a relatively small |
| can reduce the amount of tyres being disposed of | | | | number of tyres are used for this purpose out of the |
| each year. | | | | millions that are scrapped each year. Tyres used in |
| Extending the life of your tyres | | | | this way are exempt from landfill tax. |
| Having your tyres retreaded or buying retreads is | | | | Reprocessed |
| environmentally friendly, cheaper, and they are just | | | | When tyres are grinded down or shredded into small |
| as safe as new tyres. Since January 2004, it is | | | | granulated bits or 'crumbs' they can be used for a |
| mandatory for all retreaded tyres to be | | | | variety of different purposes such as surfacing for |
| manufactured to ECE regulations and for retread | | | | sports and play areas, underlay for carpets, soles for |
| producers to be licensed. However, in order to have | | | | shoes and even for road construction. |
| your tyres retread they have to be kept in good | | | | Fuel |
| condition as they can only be retread if the tread | | | | Old tyres can replace some of the coal used to fuel |
| hasn't worn down too much. | | | | cement kilns but stringent air emission limits apply to |
| Keeping your tyres in good condition not only | | | | this type of operation |
| extends the life of your tyres and reduces the | | | | Serving another purpose |
| number of tyres that need to be disposed of, it is | | | | Tyres can also be given a second life by serving |
| also safer. Protect your tyres by driving at sensible | | | | another purpose including as play items in children's |
| speeds and avoid unnecessary acceleration and | | | | play areas, motorway embankments, crash barriers |
| braking. Far less oil is used to retread a tyre than to | | | | at racing tracks, noise insulation, containers for |
| make a new tyre, (approximately 4.5 gallons less on | | | | compost heaps, protection for shrubs and trees and |
| a passenger car) so energy and natural resources are | | | | so on, the possible uses are limited only by the |
| saved in the process. | | | | imagination. |