| When old tires are worn down or damaged to the | | | | and re-molded. |
| point where they are no longer usable, there are | | | | Another tire recycling method is tire pyrolysis. |
| a few different options to choose from when it | | | | This innovative technique involves heating the tires |
| comes to recycling them responsibly. Almost 290 | | | | in an oxygen-free environment, which causes |
| million tires are scrapped each year, and the same | | | | them to melt down into their original compounds. |
| characteristics which make them great for road | | | | Metal, carbon, heavy oils, benzene, kerosene and |
| durability also make them an environmental | | | | diesel are some of the byproducts of this |
| concern. | | | | process. Different byproducts result from |
| Because tires are relatively large and don't break | | | | different temperatures used in the pyrolitic |
| down quickly, many landfills refuse to accept | | | | process. |
| them. In addition to wasting space in the junk | | | | Apart from recycling, there are also many ways |
| heap, they can also trap methane gases that may | | | | to turn scrap tires into reusable substrates for a |
| damage the lining of the landfill, which is designed | | | | variety of projects and products. Rubber Modified |
| to prevent toxins from seeping into the water | | | | Concrete and Rubber Modified Asphalt are two |
| and soil. Because it's not very easy to simply | | | | popular products which are made with reused |
| throw tires away, the market for scrap tires is | | | | scrap tires. Other products such as rubber mulch, |
| growing. Scrap tires are used to create rubber | | | | movable speed bumps, patio decks, and flooring |
| filler for a variety of products, or they may be | | | | materials can be made from reused tire rubber. |
| reused to make basketball courts or shoes. | | | | Although ecotoxicity remains a big problem when |
| One method of turning scrap tires into recycled | | | | it comes to recycling old tires, the United States |
| rubber for use in new products is ultrasound | | | | remains committed to legislature that regulates |
| recycling. In this process, high-powered ultrasound | | | | the responsible scrapping of used tires. Laws |
| is applied in combination with heat and high | | | | dealing with the issue currently exist in 48 states, |
| pressure. These forces break the bonds in the | | | | and private companies continue to explore new |
| tires and form a rubber gum that can be cured | | | | methods of recycling and reusing tires. |