From Guest Blogger Erich Lawson: Five Benefits of Tire Recycling for the Environment

Have you ever thought about what happens to your old scrap tires after you’re finished with them?

Disposing of waste tires can lead to a lot of health and safety problems. Tire piles catch fire and release chemicals into the air and ground for weeks and sometimes months on end.. Other than that, tire dumps become breeding grounds for mosquitos and pests which carry diseases. Dumping of tires causes tremendous environmental damage as it pollutes waterbodies, roadside, woods and other public land. It is fortunate that in the last couple of decades the tire recycling industry has grown immensely.  

Here are 5 benefits of tire recycling:

1. Conservation of Landfill Space – Tires take a up lot of space in landfills due to their round and hollow shape. Landfill space is a limited resource, so it is important to eliminate bulky items which makes space for things for that cannot be easily recycled.
2. Repurposing – Many useful products can be made with recycled tires. Repurposed products made from recycled tires include rubberized asphalt, flooring, railroad ties, and playground turf. Most of them are better than the traditional alternatives. Tires can be used as garden planters, home playground equipment and outdoor furniture.
3. Prevents Disease from Spreading – Old tires are breeding grounds for disease carrying rodents. The stagnant water is just right for the mosquitos to breed which also carries dangerous diseases. Tire fires give off thick black smoke causing serious damage and the pollution from tire fires can contaminate water and soil in surrounding areas  and the damage lasts for years.
4. Fuel – One common product of recycled tires is tire-derived fuel. This fuel is more energy efficient than normal fuel from coal and releases fewer harmful emissions. Whole and reduced-size scrap tires are burned for fuel. They produce fewer carbon emissions when they burn.
5. Construction Materials – Scrap tires are used for roads and civils engineering projects like soundproofing walls and bridge foundations.

The Role of Tire Shredders in Tire Recycling

Tire shredders play a major role in tire recycling. The first step to converting tires into a usable product or landfill material is by shredding them. Tire shredders have a powerful rotating force when compared to garbage shredders or wood shredders. Shear shredders are the most popular type. They are slow when it comes to speed and have two shafts of knives. These machines are equipped with built-in safety;  in case   a foreign object falls it will reverse before some serious damage is done to the machinery. Portable shredders are more expensive than stationary shredders because of the extra effort that is required to make them move as well as providing the energy and power.

Tires pose a threat of leaching toxins into the ground water due to heavy metal and pollutant content. Make it a point to recycle your old tires if you do not plan on using them at home or repurposing them then make sure to take them to be recycled. Call your city’s waste management agency or check if your city sets aside a day for tire recycling. If none of these options are open, then find a company which specialises in recycling old tires. Unfortunately, 290 million scrap tires are generated every year in the United States. Do your part and protect your planet and community by recycling.

Author Bio:

Erich Lawson is very passionate about the environment and is an advocate of effective recycling. He writes on a wide array of topics to inform readers on how modern recycling equipment can be used by industries to reduce monthly wastage bills and increase recycling revenue. You can learn more about environment saving techniques by visiting his blog on Compactor Management Company.