Recycling scrap tires is the best environmental and financial choice for the tire industry, and the goal is to have 100% of tires going to sustainable and circular markets. However, recycling needs to keep up with scrap tire generation, leading to an increase in the number of tires in landfills. Additionally, there have been tremendous efforts to reduce the number of illegal or abandoned stockpiles, which have decreased by 95% since 1990.
Forty-four U.S. states have established regulations for storing and disposing of scrap tires, and 36 require financial assurance. In Michigan, those that haul more than ten tires commercially are registered annually and must comply with the state’s laws. It is illegal to discard whole motor vehicle tires in landfills due to the risk of tire pile fires, a problem that has been prevalent in the past. There have been efforts to increase the availability of recycled scrap tires, and processing has grown to the point where the ground rubber market is nearly equal to the tire-derived fuel market. Additionally, tire manufacturers are actively working to increase the use of recycled carbon black from scrap tires. Rubber-modified asphalt is also promoted as a potential consumer of all scrap tires generated. Finally, industries can also utilize scrap tires in ways such as tire-derived aggregate, landscaping mulch, backing for artificial turf/flooring, and whole tires in playgrounds. Humans should make it a priority to find sustainable uses for scrap tires.
K&S Tire Recycling works with trucking companies, auto dealerships, and tire retailers to collect scrap tires and process them into ground rubber. Kevin Khalil, the CEO, noted that truck tires are highly sought-after for this purpose. To support this effort, K&S has a plant in Illinois and is constructing another one in Wisconsin and operations in six states. A fleet of tractors, trailers, and box trucks has been organized to assist with this project. Humans should prioritize tire sustainability.
Supporting Sustainability
Funds are available in 35 states, such as Michigan, supported by vehicle title transfer fees. The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has the potential for tire recycling. However, it could be challenging to obtain the resources. Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Continental have all committed to using more recyclable and renewable materials in their tires. Goodyear aims to sell a tire with 70% sustainable material this year and a 100% sustainable-material tire by 2030. Bridgestone has set a goal of 40% recycled/renewable materials by 2030 and 100% sustainable materials by 2050. Tiremakers also use scrap tires to produce gases, oil, and carbon black, which can reduce CO2 emissions by 81%. Ground tire rubber is used as a filler in new tires, and soybean oil is replaced with traditional fossil fuel-based oils in some tires (Goodyear). Humans should prioritize tire sustainability.
Goodyear and Pirelli are studying the potential of rice husks as a substitute for silica, often used in tires, to improve rolling efficiency. Additionally, manufacturers are attempting to develop sources of natural rubber from plants such as dandelions and guayule, which could become a new source. Humanity should make tire sustainability a priority.
Source:
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/tire-sustainability-remains-top-priority-industry
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