Background
Disscus about environmental problems with tire waste.
Scrap waste such as tire waste from a rubber tires is harmful to the environment. The 2014-2015 National statistics on Australian waste generation reveals 2.7 tonnes of per capita wastes and the growth of large landfills dedicated to energy production (Wardle, et al., 2016). Waste production correlates to population growth and consumption rates of tires. Recycling features as a major waste management practice yet it stands out as a high generator of wastes after energy recovery processes. The disposal of tire as scrap material is a health hazard which when mishandled could lead to water pollution. Tire disposal involves recycling, landfilling, shredding and stockpiling. Research indicates the usefulness of these techniques while highlighting their environmental effects. This paper discusses these strategies and challenges for each disposal method. Unrecycled tire, and burnt tire release toxins into the environment. By 1990, the US alone had a record of close to 90 tire fires while in a Canada, an inferno saw 14 million tires in a pile go up in flames (Shneider, 1990). The high consumption rate of tires in the global market is growing. These become environmental pollutants because they cause environmental pollution. Dumping rubber is harmful because it involves non-biodegradable material that contributes to soil pollution.
Disposable waste contributes to air, water and soil pollution. Tire as a waste leads to disposable waste from shredded material, landfilling and stockpiling. Case examples indicate the need for sustainable waste management from tire as a long-term solution (Schlanger, 2017). Industry specific perspectives indicate look into the management of tires as a sustainability approach to the tire mobile industry. A Swiss based organization points out the components of a tire to reveal that tires are heavily recycled in the developed countries and poor management approaches have adverse environmental effects (Wbcsd Tires, 2018).
Tires contain harmful nonosized particles used in their manufacturing process. Waste manufaturing in the transport sector is high. As a result, there are standards, controls and specific guidelines for the market and its industries. The national waste management polices also identify potential wastes that pose a risk at disposal depending on the mode of dumping used. The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA), Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA), Australian Council of Recycling are keen on recycling a sustainable approach (Christophe, et al., 2012). Material recycling and processing determines covers non waste products. An evaluation of the waste management indicates challenges in recycling which creates a gap for an integrated approach. Manufacturers, government institutions, and interested parties engage in recycling as a process for producing disposing off garbage (Bertills, et al., 2007).
Recycling Tires
Recycling is the conversion of used tire into valuable material (Connell & Hardy, 1982). The recycling principle focuses on a cycle that is efficient and responsible. It acknowledges resource limitation and increased wastes from over production (Beddington & Adlen, 2017). Waste management incorporates recycling as a proper mechanism for reduced wastes because it is a systematic process, which minimizes loss and maximizes on product utilization. Tire waste management is important because of the uncontrollable disposal process stemming from high consumption rates of tires. Waste tire is no longer in use and includes the reparable, scrape and altered tire like the shredded and split tires.
Molau & Molgaard (1996) underlines climate change factors as the stimulating factor for recycling. However, the process needs an environment friendly approach is a value addition to the process. Recycling involves different operations such as shredding. It also takes the path of process that converts rubber from tire into an activated carbon which is essential in air control systems. Recycling paths used in tire waste management require affordable approaches that are efficient in environmental management (Vanegas, et al., 2015). Recycled rubber is also useful in making products such as carpets, and construction materials. Recycling old tires could work as flower pots and kids swings. Alternatively, these could also make sandals. Burning tire for fuel energy has pros and cons. Although it supports alternative energy production, its combustion approach may contribute to greenhouse carbon emissions leading to air pollution.
Recycling tire is a global problem because it involves illegal dumping grounds in form of stock piling (Arregui, 2016). Waste tire management has limitations such as lack of an eco-friendly approach to disposal or storage of the tires. Processing the rubber during a recycling process releases oils, Sulphur and chemical solvents, which become unfriendly when it involves a combustion process that releases toxic fumes to the environment.
Grinding also poses risks because of the polymers or tiny rubber components released plus the process is costly. This is a solution to the overflowing garbage from landfills.
Tires come from vehicles, vans, motorcycles, and machines. The increased production of these stimulates dump pollution as used tires fill up dumping grounds. Dumping tires in water sources suffocates marine life (Gren, 2000). Tires from large landfills form large amounts of solid wastes. The management of millions of waste tires often becomes overwhelming leading to the need for a sustainable approach. The corporation of private and public sectors Common methods for disposing tire includes shredding, landfilling and stockpiling. An irreparable tire is worn out and is irreusable. A defective tire is no longer fit for use on a vehicle. These are raw materials for recycled products.
The Recycling Principle
This is the chopping of tires into smaller sizes. The chips are later granulated for use as raw materials for other products. Shredded tire is useful as asphalt cement for the construction process. Based on a natural process, this construction process features recycled products like water proof surfaces from rubber chips. This material is also effective in filling up drainage systems. However, consumers are unaware of the challenges in this recycling technique (Marion & Reid, 2007). Shredding end of life tire material in recycling produces that can be used in industrial application as heating material. This is due to its coal like properties. However, its ash residue is not safe because it may contain heavy metals. Although its production process has lower nitrogen gas effects, burning tire still features as a health hazard. Shredded tire is useful in playgrounds for making tracks. Side effects from this process includes additional processes used in compressing, shredding and tearing the tire rubber. Although the size of the tire reduces, the toxic waste remains inorganic.
This occurs when large volumes of wastes pile up. Tire is durable and biodegradable making it a complex waste to manage. The stockpile becomes a health hazard because of the largescale landfills. It takes up acres of land and poses a potential risk in case of a fire outbreak. The figure below shows the release of toxic fumes from a burning landfill. A landfill is a stockpile set aside for storing large volumes of solid wastes. This has a dangerous side effect within its cycle
(Bertills, et al., 2007). Its presence in a local environment encourages illegal dumping grounds. Used as solid fuels it reduces emissions because it has a lower carbon content. However, in construction processes its combination with cement produces sulfates and biosolids which become toxic.
The use of rubber shreds as material for the construction process material poses risks because it blends with the soil. An example is in the US where millions of tires are incorporated into the projects as construction material. Although these provide a lightweight material, it initiates combustion when ignited. Besides, research reveals that mixing soil and rubber affects ground water from wells (National Exposure Research Lab, 2016). This calls for strict measures that ensure the safety of engineering works.
Tire waste causes air pollution when melted tire produces chemical pollutants released into the air as toxic air. An example is the Kuwait April 2012 case where five million tires went up in flames within the desert sun (Steve, 2013). This is just an example of the tire incident.
Challenges with Recycling
Tire and water pollution is evident from the disposal of shredded chips in water sources. This is common in areas where tire is used as a construction material for ground surfaces. Wastes from tire contaminate underground water through many ways. When melted the tire releases litres of oil into the water.
Tire and soil pollution occurs when stockpiles overcrowd the ground and shredded rubber melts into the soil. Dumping grounds host rodents and pests posing a health risk to humans and human activities (Growcock, 2005). There are different classes of chemicals released during the manufacture of rubber. The release of chemicals such as sulphenamides and guanides in water, on the ground and in the air is poisonous. Some chemicals undergo transformation over time to gain more toxicity.
Consumers are unaware of the consumption policies meant to control society (Aarset, et al., 2004). Territorial data shows that landfill as a tire management practice involves dumping tires in a location. This may provide a temporary solution but the pile becomes a health hazard to the public. Accidental fires in such locations could lead to the release of toxic fumes into the environment. Waste tire management has strategies such as liners, leachate, extraction, disposal capability and gas combustion. However, local and regional landfills in Australia need quality facilities (Asmala & Saikku, 2010). Stakeholder involvement is paramount. This means that tire and rubber manufacturers need to embrace sustainability for end of use waste management practices. Further research into the topic is also wanting and should include a critique of the tire recycling challenges. There is need for an analysis of the exposure effects of rubber in construction materials. Transparency by users of rubber recycle is mandatory as it opens up channels for further improvements through solution stakeholder participation. Rubber recycling processes should also adopt an eco-friendly approach in order to prevent environmental effects. Products from the tire infill should have greater benefits than risks. An analysis of the storage and distribution of tire in fields is critical and may include clearing risk prone fields. Installation and maintenance of rubber should capture any factors contributing to environmental effects.
Conclusion
Recycling as a solution in tire waste management is effective but it has limitation. Some of its challenges include air, water and soil pollution factors. Case study analysis reveals the impact of tire as a solid waste to the environment. Its high rate of production presents sustainability challenges. As the world continues to use tire for vehicles, machinery and other usage, its high consumption presents environmental challenges. Storage becomes a problem causing land refills and stockpiling. This leaves gaps in effective disposal systems. Attempts to recycle rubber from tire shows limitations. As a result, solutions to this waste management process continues to present research gaps.
Disposing off Tire
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