Tyre Recycling

Under European law it is no longer possible to dumpTyre Disposal
car tyres into landfill sites which means we have toThe Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) was set up in
find a solution to the problem of what to do with old2004 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 wereof tyres in a way that is environmentally friendly. This
nearly half a million tonnes of waste tyres generatedcould mean recycling them, reprocessing them or
in 2004 and more than half of these were eitherfinding another use for them. Most tyre retailers are
recycled or reused, some 15% were also used asusing registered members of the TRA to collect and
fuel, 7% exported and 6% used in landfilldispose of their old tyres and will often display a
construction. However, nearly 59000 tonnes stillcertificate 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. Asknow for sure just ask them.
more and more people become car owners, theAlthough most tyres are disposed of properly by
problem of what to do with used tyres is set toresponsible 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 aparticularly as the removal and disposal of old tyres
Duty of Care placed on waste producers to disposeusually involves a small fee. Dumping tyres illegally is
of old tyres responsibly and in an environmentallynot only harmful to the environment; it is also unfair
friendly way. The EU landfill directive banned theon the others who choose to dispose of their old
dumping of whole used tyres in 2003 and now eventyres 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, tyresThere are many ways that old tyres can be disposed
with a diameter larger than 1400 mm and bicycleof 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 extendTyres can be used as part of a Leachate draining
the life of your tyres and collectively over time thissystem in landfill sites, although only a relatively small
can reduce the amount of tyres being disposed ofnumber 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 tyresthis way are exempt from landfill tax.
Having your tyres retreaded or buying retreads isReprocessed
environmentally friendly, cheaper, and they are justWhen tyres are grinded down or shredded into small
as safe as new tyres. Since January 2004, it isgranulated bits or 'crumbs' they can be used for a
mandatory for all retreaded tyres to bevariety of different purposes such as surfacing for
manufactured to ECE regulations and for retreadsports and play areas, underlay for carpets, soles for
producers to be licensed. However, in order to haveshoes and even for road construction.
your tyres retread they have to be kept in goodFuel
condition as they can only be retread if the treadOld 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 onlythis type of operation
extends the life of your tyres and reduces theServing another purpose
number of tyres that need to be disposed of, it isTyres can also be given a second life by serving
also safer. Protect your tyres by driving at sensibleanother purpose including as play items in children's
speeds and avoid unnecessary acceleration andplay areas, motorway embankments, crash barriers
braking. Far less oil is used to retread a tyre than toat racing tracks, noise insulation, containers for
make a new tyre, (approximately 4.5 gallons less oncompost heaps, protection for shrubs and trees and
a passenger car) so energy and natural resources areso on, the possible uses are limited only by the
saved in the process.imagination.