Have you ever wondered what happens to tires when they become unusable? Well, ideally, they are recycled to avoid polluting the environment. But who recycles them? What kind of businesses buy scrap tires, and what do they do with them? Read on for all the answers.
Azzam Sheikh

Azzam Sheikh

Digital Strategist at Carifex.

Tire Recycling Facilities

[Certain] facilities specialize in the recycling of scrap tires into useful materials and recycling the tires themselves during the recycling process. These facilities buy discarded tires from a variety of sellers, including individuals, merchants of tires, and corporations that manage garbage. After they have been obtained, the tires are put through a recycling process that normally entails reducing the size of the components they comprise by shredding or grinding them.

Rubber granules, rubber powder, and crumb rubber are some of the materials that can be produced as a byproduct of this process. These byproducts have a wide variety of potential applications. They are applied in industries such as construction (for rubberized asphalt or building materials), sports surfaces (such as synthetic grass or running tracks), playgrounds (for safety surfaces), the automotive industry (for molded components or noise-reducing barriers), and a variety of other industries.

Rubber Manufacturers

Various businesses purchase scrap tires, but some of the most common ones are rubber manufacturers, construction companies, and tire-derived fuel facilities.

Rubber manufacturers usually buy scrap tires to produce various rubber products such as mats, seals, and playground surfaces. Construction companies use scrap tires as a replacement for gravel in various construction projects such as road building, drainage systems, and landfill liners. Tire-derived fuel facilities purchase scrap tires to generate energy by incinerating the tires, which reduces the consumption of fossil fuels.

Overall, the demand for scrap tires has been increasing, and more and more businesses are buying scrap tires for various purposes.

Colt Agar

Colt Agar

Marketing Researcher of Bizpedia.co.
Lauren Mendoza

Lauren Mendoza

Founder of Bank Standard.

Construction Industry

Scrap tires are an underestimated goldmine that caters to various businesses. Recycling companies are the primary buyers as they turn these scrap tires into crumb rubber, used in items like playground surfaces, asphalt, and even new tires. Energy plants also procure scrap tires to extract fuel through a process called pyrolysis.

In the construction industry, civil engineering firms use scrap tires in road and landfill projects due to their excellent drainage and insulation properties. Additionally, creative and innovative startups are increasingly leveraging scrap tires for sustainable products such as furniture, flooring, and fashion accessories.

Automotive And Transportation Businesses

When it comes to businesses that usually purchase scrap tires, there is a diverse range of industries involved. Recycling companies play a crucial role in the market, as they specialize in processing and repurposing used tires, contributing to waste reduction and promoting environmental sustainability.

Automotive and transportation businesses, including tire retreaters, are also key players. They buy scrap tires to refurbish and offer affordable options to fleet operators, thereby extending the lifespan of tires. Construction companies are another category of buyers, utilizing scrap tires for road construction projects, where they serve as noise barriers and embankments.

Furthermore, there is a growing demand from innovative companies focused on eco-friendly products like rubber mulch for playgrounds and athletic fields, as they recognize the value of using recycled tires. Overall, the market for scrap tires caters to a wide range of businesses, each with its own sustainability,cost-efficiency, and creative objectives in mind.

Jordon Scrinko

Jordon Scrinko

Founder & Marketing Director of Precondo.
Jacob Carter

Jacob Carter

Owner of Engine Rev Up.

Energy Industry

Now, who buys these old rubber donuts, you ask? Well, a wide variety of businesses. For starters, you’ve got the guys in the playground and sports field sector. They grind those tires down into rubber mulch. Kind of like a tire’s version of retirement, spending the golden years cushioning the falls of kiddos on playgrounds.

Then there’s the construction industry. Ever drive on the road and think, “Man, this feels smooth?” You might be riding on your old tires! They’re used in civil engineering projects like road fill and land reclamation. I like to think of it as the tires making a noble sacrifice for the greater good.

Lastly, let’s not forget the boffins in the energy industry. These folks are pretty innovative – they convert scrap tires into fuel. Old tires aren’t just going to the graveyard. They’re being reborn as the very fuel that powers our homes.

So next time you see an old tire, don’t think of it as the end of its journey but rather the beginning of a new adventure. It’s like that old saying in the tire world, “One man’s tread is another man’s treasure.”

Cement Manufacturing

Cement manufacturing plants are the industry that uses scrap tires. These tires become a fuel source for kilns, which reduces the use of traditional fossil fuels. The regulatory requirement of emission and waste disposal is met by using these scrap tires. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency has set emission norms for cement kilns to limit the amount of pollutants in the air.

Therefore these tires help in reducing emissions from plants and prove energy efficient. The scrap tires, which are used as one of the ingredients in final products, serve as raw material for some of the cement industries.

Ray Pierce

Ray Pierce

CEO and founder of Zippy Cash For Cars.

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