The primary reason that recycling tyres is so difficult is due to their composition. Tyres are made of natural and synthetic rubber, which gives them their strength and durability. However, this also makes them resistant to degradation, meaning they can last for years in the environment without breaking down. This makes them a significant environmental pollutant if not properly disposed of.

Another difficulty with recycling tyres is that they often contain harmful chemicals and metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. These can leach out into the environment and cause serious health problems for people and wildlife.

Finally, tyres are often contaminated with other materials such as oil or grease, which makes them difficult to recycle using traditional methods. This means that specialised facilities are required to recycle tyres, which can be costly and not widely available.

The three R’s of waste management are reduce, reuse and recycle. One way to reduce the amount of tyres in landfill is by following the three R’s.

Reduce: Every time a tyre is bought, think about how long it will last and if you really need it. Tires are a big investment, so try to make them last as long as possible. Check air pressure regularly and have your alignment checked yearly to help prolong the life of your tires. When they finally do need to be replaced, don’t just throw them away – recycle them!
Reuse: If a tire still has some life left in it but is no longer safe to drive on, consider repurposing it. Old tires can be used as planters or swing seats. They also make great raised garden beds because they retain water well. There are endless possibilities for upcycling old tires – get creative!
Recycle: The best way to keep tires out of landfill is to recycle them. All those rubber particles can be reused to make new products like playground mulch, running tracks and road surfaces

The waste tyre problem is a global environmental issue. Each year, around 1.5 billion tyres are discarded worldwide, with only a small percentage being recycled or reused. This results in large stockpiles of tyres which can pose a significant risk to the environment and human health.

Tyres are made from a variety of synthetic rubber and plastic compounds which make them extremely resistant to degradation. This means that they can take many years to break down naturally, and when they do, they release harmful toxins into the environment. Tyres can also harbour diseases and pests which can spread to other areas, causing further damage to the ecosystem.

The build-up of tyre waste also takes up valuable space in landfills, preventing other waste from being disposed of properly. This can lead to pollution and contamination of soil and water supplies. In some cases, tyre fires have also broken out at landfill sites, releasing toxic fumes into the air and posing a serious health hazard to nearby residents.

There are various ways to reduce the impact of tyre waste on the environment. One is to recycle tyres into new products such as rubber matting or fuel for cement kilns. Another is to promote the use of retreaded tyres which prolongs their life and reduces the need for new tyres to be manufactured. Finally, raising awareness about the issue can help encourage people to dispose of their old tyres responsibly rather than simply dumping them in landfill sites where they will cause harm to the environment.