Recycling Your Tyres – Everything You Need To Know

Ever wondered where your used tyres go? Or been stuck knowing what to do with your old ones? I mean, with a lot of motorists, it is unlikely many truly have a long think about their tyre post replacement. However, this may be about to change. We have put together everything you need to know about what happens to your tyres once they have reached the end of their life. 

We all know the world has a recycling issue, with just one being the amount of plastic left floating in the pacific ocean, which has created a plastic island, almost 3 times the size of France. But what about when it comes to rubber and tyres? 1.5 billion tyres per year are disposed of around the world, some being done correctly, and others, fairly carelessly. 

There is a strict EU policy when it comes to how tyres are disposed of, but even with this in place, it has been found that nearly 20% of tyres are not disposed of correctly or recovered. Across the rest of the world in places like India, it is estimated that 60% of tyres end up in a landfill, and in Kuwait, there is actually a tyre graveyard so large that it can be seen from space! 

Why is it important to dispose of your tyres properly?

There are many reasons why disposing of your tyres properly is important. One of these is that incinerating tyres emit particulates. These particulates can be damaging to the health of people breathing them in as they can include bits of microplastic and harmful chemicals. Over the years, this has contributed to many illnesses and deaths across the world. As well as being a fire hazard, tyre landfill sites also allow for toxic chemicals that melt into the ground and negatively affect the environment. These chemicals can cause toxic groundwater and act as a breeding ground for pests. 

How are tyres recycled? 

You will often find old tyres being reused or repurposed for many things. Using reprocessed tyres as new material for a large range of things can hold huge benefits for the environment and has substantial economic benefits also. Things old tyres can be used for include; 

• Using the rubber crumbs and granules as surfaces for roads
• You can take your used tyres to a recycling centre made especially for old tyres
• Using full or halved tyres as garden planters
• Turning your tyres into furniture
• Turning halved tyres in a bike stops
• Furniture

The list could go on with the more creative you want to get with it. However, in your local area, there should be a recycling system in place for tyres or at least a tyre recycling centre nearby where you can take your old tyres and be confident that they are going to be recycled properly without damaging the environment or being dumped illegally.