Waste tires are a persistent and widespread problem. In the United States alone, an estimated 300 million tires are discarded every year.
To understand the damage an old tire can do to the environment; you need to examine more than just the negative effects of the rubber itself. Tires seem like simple inventions, but there is more to them than you might know.
If improperly managed, waste tires (also known as scrap tires) pose a potential risk to human and environmental health. If recycled, waste tires can be made into many products or used as an alternative fuel source.
Stockpiles of illegally dumped or stored tires collect rainwater and provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes that transmit illnesses. These piles also are a fire hazard. Tire fires – which are extremely difficult to extinguish – release toxic air pollutants and generate oil that can contaminate the ground and surface water
The biggest problem with discarding old tires is that they contain chemicals and heavy metals that leach into the environment as the tires break down. Some of these chemicals cause cancer and gene mutations.
Leaching affects the soil around the old tire, which at first may not seem like a big problem. But if the tire is eventually moved, the soil will still have the toxins. Another major concern is groundwater. If toxins get into any water in the soil, the water can transport them to other locations, potentially harmful to any
animals that come in contact with the poisoned water.
Recycling tires can help harmful chemicals stay out of the earth, water, and air. It can prevent tires from becoming disease-carrying-pest breeding grounds or affecting the surrounding environment. When you are ready to get rid of your old tires, make sure they get recycled.
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And, if you get your tires replaced, ask the mechanic what they plan on doing with the old tires. If they are not going to recycle them, take them home and drive them to a recycling facility yourself.