Tyre recycling involves sending old tyres to specialized plants where they are processed into reusable materials.
Tyre recycling is an essential process for managing the vast number of used tyres generated globally, preventing them from ending up in landfills. The process typically involves several key stages to break down the complex structure of a tyre into usable components.
The Recycling Journey
When old tyres get recycled, they're shipped to a commercial reprocessing plant. These facilities are equipped to handle the tough, durable materials that make up a tyre.
At the plant, the tyres are prepared for processing. This often includes:
- Inspection: Tyres are checked to remove any foreign objects like metal rims or debris.
- Shredding: Large shredders break down the whole tyres into smaller pieces.
Following the initial breakdown, the material is further processed. The reference states that tyres are treated with chemicals that break them down into material that can be reused. This chemical treatment, often part of processes like pyrolysis or devulcanization, helps to separate the rubber from other components and make it pliable for reuse.
After treatment, that material is then ground up into tiny pieces. This resulting material is often called crumb rubber, and its fineness can vary depending on its intended application. Steel belts and textile fibres are usually removed during the grinding or shredding process and can also be recycled separately.
What Happens to Recycled Tyre Material?
The crumb rubber and other recovered materials from tyre recycling have numerous practical applications, helping to create a circular economy for tyres. Examples include:
- Rubberised Asphalt: Adding crumb rubber to asphalt makes roads more durable and quieter.
- Sports Surfaces: Used in playground surfaces, running tracks, and artificial turf infill.
- Moulded Products: Used to create products like floor mats, speed bumps, and roofing tiles.
- Fuel: Whole tyres or shredded tyre-derived fuel (TDF) can be used as an energy source in industrial processes like cement kilns.
By diverting tyres from landfills and transforming them into valuable resources, tyre recycling significantly reduces waste and conserves raw materials.
