What are tires made of? How long do they last?
There are three major components in tires: rubber, carbon black powder, and metal elements. Tires can last a long time, but manufacturers recommend replacing them every six years, but no more than ten years, regardless of the tread depth.
When tires reach the end of their life, where do they go?
When tires are worn out, they are often disposed of in landfills. A report from the Tire Industry Project states that one billion end-of-life tires are generated annually, and that there are four billion old tires in landfills and stockpiles worldwide.
Used tires are being put in places all around the world that “cannot” be controlled. If these tires catch on fire, they are difficult to extinguish and will impact the landfill and its surrounding environment.
Tires that are deemed “unusable” in other countries are shipped overseas to a European system, but some don’t actually end up in the system; instead, they end up in places where they shouldn’t be, harming people and the environment. Overall, it is widely believed that one billion tires are discarded every year.
All the tires that are discarded due to being at the end of their “life” are creating a large environmental challenge.
It is not commonly understood that tires left in the open or exposed to the elements have a significant impact on local habitats through the release of rubber and the spread of microplastics
Tires naturally give off carbon dioxide, so if a tire is not in use, it harms the environment.
The best way to recycle a tire involves tearing down the tire itself, using the scraps of the tire to create other products, such as sports fields and playgrounds.
Some of the best ways to reuse tires so they do not harm the environment are:
One use them in garden beds
Two outdoor or indoor swings
Three outdoor furniture
Four playgrounds or asphalt
