Tires that are burned or abandoned can have a significantly negative impact on the environment. Read on to discover why recycling your tire scraps can save your health, minimize your carbon footprint, and lead to less pollution in our oceans.
Ryan Mckenzie

Ryan Mckenzie

Co-Founder & CMO of Tru Earth.

Harmful Substance Can Leach Into the Soil and Water Causing Pollution

Tire rubber has many components that can be damaging to the environment. These include volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and other chemicals which are released during the burning of tires.

In addition, when tires are disposed of in landfills or stockpiled, they can leach harmful substances into the soil and water around them, causing pollution. The accumulation of these pollutants in the environment can have a significant impact on wildlife and human health. As tires break down, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.

Furthermore, the rubber particles that are produced by tire wear can be ingested by animals, potentially leading to toxic accumulation in their bodies.

Finally, improper disposal of tires can lead to an increase in the number of vector-borne diseases, such as the West Nile virus and Lyme disease. Therefore, it is important to properly dispose of tires and use eco-friendly alternatives whenever possible.

Contamination That Can Lead to Fish and Plant Death

Tires can be toxic to the environment in a variety of ways. Tires are made from rubber and other materials that contain chemicals, including benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, and lead compounds.

When these compounds break down over time, they leach into the groundwater and soil. This can cause contamination of nearby ecosystems leading to fish and plant death as well as harm to human health through drinking water pollution and contact with contaminated soil.

Additionally, when tires are burned, they release pollutants like carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Furthermore, tire particles have been found in the air, causing respiratory issues such as asthma due to the inhalation of particles containing volatile organic compounds.

Finally, tires can accumulate in landfills and take hundreds of years to fully degrade. This contributes to the waste problem and takes up valuable space that could be used for other purposes. As a result, it is important to properly dispose of tires in order to reduce their environmental impact.

Gary Gray

Gary Gray

Co-Founder of CouponChief.
Mercylilian Wambui

Mercylilian Wambui

Head of Marketing of LonelyAxe.

Burned Tires Emits Greenhouse Gasses That Contribute to Global Warming

Tires are manufactured using plastic and natural rubber, which makes them last a long time, and are therefore not easily disposable. Tires’ longevity is a good thing when you think about changing a flat tire, but it has a flip side. Tires contribute up to 10 percent of microplastic waste in the water bodies, ranking them higher in the environmental pollutants list.

Over 300 million tires are scrapped per year, making the global environmental implications hard to ignore. Tires are quickly taking up landfill space, which results in illegal dumping. Just by lying under the sun, tires emit methane, which in turn increases the carbon footprint.

When a tire sits on the ground for a long time, it eradicates important soil bacteria without which plants wither and die off. The heavy metal and chemicals that tires contain slowly leach into the soil. The leachate contains carcinogenic substances that contaminate the soil and ground waters.

Dumped tires are highly likely to catch fire, which is highly not extinguishable. The thick, dark smoke released contains toxic pollutants including carbon monoxide, benzene, xylene, acetone, ethylene, and cyanide, which spells environmental pollution and poses health risks for humans.

Burning tires emit greenhouse gasses: carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrous oxide which contribute to global warming. Burnt tires leave behind harmful solid waste that absorbs harmful chemicals from the air. If left unchecked, it could become a significant environmental hazard.

As tires wear, the tiny plastic polymers and leachate that rub off them are likely to end up in water bodies and estuaries. Leachate is toxic to the aqua systems and causes a deadly effect on the organisms living in the water bodies, affecting their behavior and development.

Major Source of Litter That Can Harm Marine Life

The production of tires is a complex process that involves the use of a variety of chemicals and materials. These chemicals and materials can have a negative impact on the environment both during the manufacturing process and after the tires are discarded.

One of the most significant environmental impacts of tires is their contribution to climate change. Tires are made from petroleum products, which release greenhouse gases when burned. The manufacture, use, and disposal of tires also generate these emissions. In addition, when tires are incinerated, they release black carbon, which is a potent global warming pollutant.

Tires also contain other harmful chemicals, including heavy metals like lead and cadmium. These metals can leach into the soil and water when tires degrade, posing a threat to human health and the environment. In addition, tire rubber contains compounds like benzene and butadiene that are known to cause cancer.

Finally, tires are a major source of litter. They often end up in our oceans and waterways, where they can harm marine life. Tires can also clog storm drains, leading to flooding and other problems.

Bruce Rodriguez

Bruce Rodriguez

This is a crowdsourced article. Contributors' statements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this website, other people, businesses, or other contributors.