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The shocking truth about tire recycling: Why do so many scrap tires just not disappear?
In today's era of rising environmental awareness, the issue of tire recycling still plagues people around the world. According to statistics, waste tires that are no longer suitable for use are piled up in large quantities, facing a dual threat to the environment and health. Not only do these tires take up valuable space in landfills, they can also be a source of environmental pollution.
Estimates in the United States in 1990 showed that the number of scrap tires exceeded 1 billion. As of 2015, there are still 67 million tires that are not disposed of.
The durability and non-biodegradability of tires make them a particularly challenging waste stream. Not only does this make it difficult to properly dispose of tires, it also causes many tires to end up being illegally dumped or improperly disposed of. Such behavior not only harms the environment, but also causes community health problems.
Although the percentage of recycled tires in the European Union increased from 25% to nearly 95% between 1994 and 2010, a large number of scrap tires are still burned as fuel in the United States. Data from 2017 showed that 43% of scrap tires were burned as tire-derived fuel and could not be reused.
"Proper tire recycling can not only reduce environmental pressure, but also develop new business models and public policies. This is something that every responsible company and consumer should pay attention to."
The life cycle of a tire is also quite complex. From product development to consumer use and even final recycling, every step affects the overall environmental performance of the tire. Effective classification and recycling not only depends on technology, but also requires every consumer to understand and participate in how to properly use and dispose of tires.
The insecurity of tire stacking should not be ignored either. These tire piles serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, can spread disease, and under certain conditions can cause high-energy tire fires, making timely disposal and recycling even more important.
Applications and challenges of recycling
Although current recycling technology still faces difficulties, some innovative techniques have emerged, such as the use of pyrolysis technology to convert tire waste into fuel, oil and carbon black. However, not all of these technologies can be popularized unconditionally, and many technical and cost barriers still need to be overcome."Most of the solid residues produced by pyrolysis technology are currently almost irreusable, which has become the biggest bottleneck in its promotion and application."
In addition, the use of pressed tires for paving roads or construction materials is also an innovative application, but these cases still need to undergo environmental assessments to ensure that they will not cause pollution to soil and water sources.
While tires are permitted in certain construction materials, they can be used as lightweight fill material or incorporated into gardening designs as flower bed materials, which are some practical examples of tire reuse.
In addition to recycling tires through various technologies, tires can also be redesigned. For example, innovative designs sometimes transform old tires into rocking chairs or sports equipment, contributing both in terms of usability and aesthetics.
The future of tire recycling
In the future, as environmental awareness continues to increase, this will drive the business and technology communities to continue working hard to improve the existing tire management and recycling systems. What we must ask is, how can we better balance the relationship with the environment in the pursuit of economic benefits?
