Tyre Recycling In The UK Guide

There are over 38 million vehicles in the UK, all of which need at least two tyres to function. The importance of tyres is easily overlooked, resulting in many people not knowing what to do with them when they are being replaced. Over 1 billion tyres are overworn every year, causing massive stress on landfill sites and the environment. In 2006, the UK government banned tyres from being disposed of in landfills, forcing systems to be put in place to recycle them.

However, tyres are amongst the most difficult items to recycle, being a mixture of many different materials, including textiles, rubber, and steel. Tyres are durable and tough; their function and daily use demands it.

How Do You Recycle Tyres?

As tyres are a mixture of a variety of materials, it makes them difficult to recycle. End-of-life tyres are ground down into small pieces and the materials are then separated to ensure correct disposal of each one. In the majority of cases, old tyres are used for:

• The production of new products, including chairs, garden plant pots, and stairs.
• Incineration purposes, mainly to produce energy for use in manufacturing.
• Tyres can be broken down and reused in new products, such as playground and track flooring, or footwear.

Many people look for a third party to take the tyres off their hands. They want someone who knows what they are doing with them, someone who knows how to dispose of tyres safely, promptly and appropriately. Here, we will explore the different ways, you as a consumer can recycle your tyres:

• Give them to your local playground, zoo, or sports club, as they’ll be able to reuse your tyres in creative and useful ways. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you’ll also be helping the community.
• You can pay a small charge at your local garage to have them recycled when you replace your old ones. The price can sometimes be as little as £5 so it is not expensive to do so.
• The most useful and easiest way of recycling your used tyres is disposing of them through the local council. Tyres are now classified as hazardous waste, so every council has a responsibility to recycle them in an environmentally friendly way. There may be a limit on how much you can recycle at one time, and a small charge for the service.

Benefits of Recycling Tyres

Since the enforcement of the EU Landfill Act, tyre recycling has become a billion-pound industry. This is not only positive for those needing to dispose of their tyres, but reduces air, water, and soil pollution that was previously produced from burning and decomposing tyres. Recycling tyres also prevents the spread of disease, as old tyres are the perfect breeding grounds for rodents and mosquitoes due to the stagnant water the tyres hold.

Furthermore, it limits the number of natural resources that would have been used in the production of new tyres, forcing corporations to use worn tyres in different, more environmentally friendly ways.

Your Duty of Care

It is up to you to ensure your tyres are safely disposed of through the suitable systems that are put in place by the government. It has become easier than ever to recycle all types of tyres, there are even collection services that can collect old tyres from the place of your choosing, so there is no excuse to fly tip or dump them into landfill.

Whether you run a car or use a bicycle, it is inevitable that eventually, you will need to replace your tyres. Here at Hill Metal Recycling, we pride ourselves in recycling over 90% of the materials we salvage, and our friendly team will help you with any queries you may have with our services. For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us today!