Scrap tyres are a contemporary risk that Australia must contend with. Tyres are still disposed of incorrectly despite recycling efforts and laws at the state and federal levels of government. Some users recklessly store them in empty lots or purposefully discard them there. Despite the motivation, these behaviours have long-term effects.
To lessen the adverse environmental impacts of these rotting rubber rings, it is crucial to comprehend the significance of recycling discarded tyres after they are removed from vehicles and cleaning up old dump sites.
Resources that are Natural Being Wasted
Renewable resources are a major component of tyre production. 90% of the natural rubber used in tyres comes from rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) that are cultivated in Southeast Asia. These trees mature five to six years after planting. The trees need to be tapped every day for the next 20–25 years after they are fully developed. The limited resource can alternatively be replaced by synthetic rubber. However, each tire made of this rubber costs one barrel of oil. Our finite natural resources are being depleted with each new tire produced.
If the automobile tyres are recycled as they reach the end of their useful lives, the majority of these resources can be recovered and used again. Technology for recycling waste tyres, like the units we develop at Eco Green Equipment, is intended to remove and separate as much recyclable material from each tyre as possible.
- Environmental pollution
Tyres don’t break down. Tyres can leak chemicals into the air, ground, and water that can disrupt the ecosystem when they accumulate in landfills or junkyards. A used tyre emits methane gas into the atmosphere just by being in the sun. Our carbon footprint grows as a result of this greenhouse gas, which may also contribute to climate change.
In the event that the tyre catches fire, poisonous black smoke may be released into the atmosphere. Many of the chemicals used in tyre manufacture are carried in this smoke. This is why tyre fires cannot be put out using water. The volatile substances are removed from this form of fire when water is splashed on it. They may then contaminate our lakes and ponds by seeping into groundwater reserves.
Beneficial soil microorganisms can be completely eliminated by just leaving tyres on the ground for a long time. These bacteria create nutrients that are necessary for the nutrition of both plants and animals. Animal and plant species lose their environment and extinction occurs without the presence of bacteria.
- Preservation of landfills
Tyre disposal is such a huge concern that both state and federal legislation has been passed to control the practice. In the majority of states, breaking the law can result in fines or even legal action. Right now, and for good reason, just 38 states permit the disposal of complete tyres in landfills. It’s a horrible habit for tyres that have been buried in landfills to rise to the top of the pile. These tyres need to be buried, and that means constant watchfulness.
Whole tyres can be disposed of , however only four can be disposed of at once. This legislation forbids businesses from bringing in truckloads of tyres but prevents individuals from looking for an empty spot to dump their truck tyres in. It compels the largest tyre waste producers to discover a better solution to get rid of their discarded tyres.
- Invasion of insects
West Nile Virus and other vector-borne diseases love tires as the ideal hatching environment. Rainwater gathers in a tyre’s exposed centre while it sits, forming tiny, motionless water pools. Mosquitoes may lay their eggs in these ponds with ease. This type of tyre storage is equivalent to giving these bothersome insects a place to call home. To protect both the safety and well-being of employees and members of the public, tyre manufacturers and recyclers are required to follow standards regulating tyre custody.
Bearcat’s tyre disposal is a better option. If you need assistance in disposing used tyres, they are always ready to help you.