Why Tire Recycling is Essential for a Greener Future?

1. The Environmental Impact of Waste Tires

Discarded tires contribute to various environmental issues:​

• Landfill Overcrowding: In the European Union alone, about 3.4 million tonnes of ELT waste are collected annually. ​

• Air Pollution: Globally, more than 1 billion ELTs are generated each year, with 46% being incinerated, releasing millions of tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere.

• Ocean Pollution: Tires degrade into microplastics, contributing to the estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans, posing severe threats to marine life. ​

2. Benefits of Tire Recycling

Recycling tires offers numerous environmental and economic advantages:​

• Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Recycling one tonne of tires saves more than 1.2 tonnes of CO₂ emissions compared to producing new ones.

• Conserves Natural Resources: Retreading preserves about 90% of the material in spent tires, with material costs approximately 20% of manufacturing a new tire. ​

• Energy Savings: Recycling tires reduces the need for raw materials, leading to significant energy savings and decreased environmental impact.​

3. Current Tire Recycling Efforts

Efforts to recycle tires have shown progress:​

• United States: Approximately 280 million tires are discarded annually, equating to about one tire per person. Around 76% of these waste tires are recycled. ​

• Ontario, Canada: In 2020, tire recycling reduced emissions that cause smog formation by 8.9 million kg of O₃. ​

• Scotland: A new facility in Linwood aims to process around 100,000 tonnes of tires annually, preventing approximately 2.7 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per tonne of waste processed. ​

4. Conclusion

Tire recycling is imperative for mitigating environmental challenges associated with waste tires. By reducing landfill waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and conserving natural resources, recycling contributes significantly to a greener and more sustainable future.