TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
WHAT IS TIRE RECYCLING?
Much like humans, tires have a life span. When they
become so old, worn out, and irreparable, we often dump
them in landfills. Unfortunately, this leads to serious
environmental issues.
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.
Tire recycling involves the conversion of waste tires into
materials that we can use to create new products. At this
point, you may ask: why do we need to recycle tires?
Well, this is due to their increasing numbers and how fast
some tires reach their end-of-life. In turn, this means that
more tires are getting into landfills.
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
How Are Tires Recycled? (Step by Step Process of
Tire Recycling)
Step 1: Collection of Waste Tires
As you already know, the collection of waste is the first
step in any recycling process. At this stage, individuals and
businesses dealing in tire recycling collect tires.
Sometimes, individuals who collect scrap tires and send
them to points of the collection get paid. Typically, these
scrap tires get moved to their collection points once they
reach a particular number.
Step 2: Tire Processing (Shredding)
The first step after taking waste tires to processing plants is
to cut them into small pieces. The idea here is to reduce the
tire’s size into a material that one can handle easily.
With the help of tire shredders, we shred these tires or cut
them using the rotating shafts. Eventually, this stage
produces pieces of tire shreds of 2-inch length. At the end
of this stage, you then derive raw materials that you can
use for fuel.
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
Step 3: Steel Liberation and separation of fiber
Here, you process and prepare tired shreds for elimination
and separate tire wires from rubbers using strong magnets.
Also, there is a need to separate the fiber from other
constituents using air classifiers.
Steel wires, which give resilience and strength to tires, get
removed and recycled. You can then take these steel wires
to roll mills to be used in manufacturing new wheels.
STEP 4: SCREENING STAGE
The stage after separating wires from rubber is screening.
The gist here is to carefully observe the rubber and ensure
no wire is left in the rubber. You will essentially screen
large volumes and sizes of rubbers with no wires and sort
them according to their sizes.
It also involves the elimination of any unwanted
substances and reducing the sizes of large rubbers and
unwanted leftover pieces.
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
Regardless, at the very frontline of all these efforts is tire
recycling. Now, you are wondering what this is all about.
Luckily for you, that is what this article is all about.
STEP 5: CLEANING STAGE
The cleaning stage is the penultimate stage. This involves a
thorough cleaning of the screened rubber. Here, you use
water and cleaning agents in a thorough cleaning process.
STEP 6: PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTING
STAGE
This marks the final stage of recycling tires. The clean
rubber derived from the cleaning staged gets packaged. It
then gets delivered to factories that need them as raw
materials for production in their respective processing
plants. Examples of these factories include manufacturers
of rubber shoes and playground turfs.
BENEFITS OF TYRE RECYCLING
Recycling waste tires offers immeasurable benefits.
Here a few of the benefits that come with tire recycling.
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
1. Creates New Products
You can recycle waste tires into useful products.
Particularly, you can derive fuel that is even more efficient
than fuel derived from coal, from recycled tires.
Playground turf, railroad ties, and flooring are examples of
products you can make by recycling waste tires. It is
interesting to note that tire recycled products are often
better than normal alternatives.
One common product of recycled tires is tire-derived fuel.
This fuel is more energy-efficient than normal fuel from
coal, and it releases fewer harmful emissions. Other
products made from recycled tires include rubberized
asphalt, flooring, railroad ties, and playground turf.
1. Tire-Derived Fuel
Tire-derived fuel (TDF) refers to scrap tires that have been
shredded and can then be used as a supplement for
traditional fires. Fires fueled by tires are notoriously out of
control, so TDF pieces are typically used in combustion
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
devices where they can burn efficiently at high
temperatures in a controlled environment.
Fact
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has conducted
detailed research on the importance and value of tire-
derived fuels as a more economical, cleaner alternative to
fossil fuels. Tire-derived fuel produces more energy than
coal.
Rubber Mulch
Rubber mulch is becoming more and more popular as a
playground groundcover material. The rubber has more
shock absorption than wood chips, so it is safer for
children to play on. Rubber mulch pieces are also a lot
more comfortable to walk on than wood chips, so any kids
who run around barefoot will avoid splinters.
Overall, when you recycle tires, you’re creating an
opportunity for new products.
2. PREVENTS ENVIRONMENTAL
POLLUTION
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
Another key benefit of recycling tires means that when we
disposed by burning them, it produce black, thick smoke.
That is harmful for our environment.
3. BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
EMPLOYMENT
The tire recycling do not only keeps rubber tires from
pilling up, but it reduce the need to manufacture new
products and harvest raw material. As the rubber recycling
industry grows, it creates more jobs, including opening for
drivers, mechanics and operators. This will automatically
boost the economy of a country.
COMPARISION BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND
OTHER COUNTRIES
Currently, the worldwide rate for tire recovery is about 70
percent, and about 50 percent are recycled. The United
Kingdom UK progress to the point where nearly 100% of
the tires are recovered and recycled in some forms. More
than 68% of tires are recycled in Germany. A United State
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TOPIC: TIRE RECYCLING
U.S tire manufacturers association report reveals that
almost 76% of tires are recycled.
On the other hand Pakistan is not consider in global tire
recycling market report and now only one plant is
working in Shalimar tire recycling.
Conclusion
There’re numerous reasons why you want to recycle the
tires as opposed to using crude means of disposal.
Recycling will go a long way to keep our environment
clean and keep us safe.
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