Tire recycling, also known as rubber recycling, refers to the process of recycling used vehicle tires that can no longer be used on the vehicles due to wear and tear or irreparable damage
Used tires are among the most problematic and challenging sources of solid waste . This is due to their large volume, their resilience, and the fact that they contain components that pose a threat to the environment and to the people around. They also become the home ground for mosquitoes and rodents which are responsible for carrying many diseases.
More research by African climate reporters reveals that ,It is estimated that over 250,000,000 tires are thrown away annually. Because of this high availability, resilience, bulk and non-biodegradability, tires are prime targets for recycling.
In a research conducted in some organization, it reveal the various process of Tire Recycling, so as to protect the environment against of attack
The tire life cycle can be identified by the following six steps:
- Product developments and innovations such as improved compounds and camber tire shaping increase tire life, increments of replacement, consumer safety, and reduce tire waste.
- Proper manufacturing and quality of delivery reduces waste at production.
- Direct distribution through retailers, reduces inventory time and ensures that the life span and the safety of the products are explained to customers.
- Consumers’ use and maintenance choices like tire rotation affect tire wear and safety of operation.
- Manufacturers and retailers set policies on return, retread , and replacement to reduce the waste generated from tires and assume responsibility for taking the ‘tire to its grave’ or to its reincarnation.
- Recycling tires by developing strategies that combust or process waste into new products, creates viable businesses, and fulfilling public policies
In every recycling process , collection is usually the first step. Here, tires are collected by individuals and some business individuals who have ventured into tire recycling business. People are paid for collecting tires and sending them to collection points. Once the tires reach the required number or volume, they are packed in huge tracks and sent to the processing plants for processing. Although it is considered a profitable venture, some people prefer reusing these used tires for other purposes at home. A good example is using the tires as rubber mulch, used in jungle gyms for strength, speed agility and resilience training.
In conclusion, The tire shreds obtained from step 1 are processed and prepared for the elimination and separation of the tire wire from the rubber. This important step includes fiber separation and course screening. Tires contain steel wires for resilience, strength and versatility. The steel wires are removed, recycled and sent to steel rolling mills for the manufacture of new steel. The remaining rubber can be sold as rubber mulch or can be used as playground or field turf or used as crumb rubber feed stock.
