3 Reasons To Recycle Your Old Tires
When the time comes to replace the tires on your car, you should take the time to consider the fate of the old tires. If you have concerns about the environmental impact, then recycling can be the most responsible option.
1. Tires are Reusable
Recycling is an improvement over normal disposal since the tires are given a new life. In some cases, recycling may be direct — old tires may simply be retreaded with a fresh rubber tread and put onto a different vehicle.
It's also possible to reuse tires in new ways. For example, old tires can be re-manufactured into a shock-absorbing playground and garage mats, or they may be ground up and used in construction or as a roadbed. The rubber is also used as is in a multitude of industries, from sandal footbeds to children's swings and doormats.
2. Landfilling Is Risky
Tire issues in landfills have made their way into the news multiple times. Tire fires are one of the greatest risks. Rubber is quite flammable and nearly impossible to extinguish once ignited. A large tire dump can burn for months at a time before the fire goes out, which releases a lot of harmful chemicals into the air we breathe.
There are other risks to human health when tires are simply stacked in a landfill. The inner rims hold water, which can be a breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes or for bacteria. The rubber can also leach out harmful toxins into the soil, which will make their way into the groundwater supply. This can have repercussions on the ecosystem as well as on drinking water.
3. Disposal Can Be Pricey
Due to the risk of landfilling and the amount of space taken up by them, many landfills refuse to take tires. Those that do may charge a premium price for the privilege of dumping them. Even the tire shop will likely charge a disposal fee if you have them take the old tires when you get new ones.
Opting to take the tires to a recycler can save you the expense of just trashing them through traditional disposal means. Even those recyclers that charge a fee often charge much less than the typical landfill. It's also the more environmentally friendly option, and much better than just leaving them stacked somewhere on your property or dumping them illegally.
Contact a service like Intrawest to learn more about your disposal options.