Environmental Aspects
Looking to dispose of old tyres? New European and UK legislation means that from 2003, old tyres will not be accepted at landfill sites. Northern Tyre Disposals has the equipment to bring to your location to process the tyres and form blocks measuring approx. 30" x 50" x 60" (0.75m x 1.25m x 1.5m). This amounts to a volume reduction of about 5:1 whilst still leaving sufficient voids for drainage. Each block contains roughly 100 whole tyres and weighs approximately one ton. Once baled, blocks can be stacked and transported with relative ease due to their uniform size.The most exciting advantage to this method of waste tyre processing are the potential uses the blocks have as an end product. The compressed block are extremely stable over a wide range of tempatures and tests conducted with SEPA show that there is minimal risk from pollution. Further tests have shown that due to the density of the blocks, the risk of fire is virtually non existent. The bales can be used 'raw', in the place of expensive, non-renewable aggregate where drainage and a stable surface is required or can be painted, coated or covered with soil, concrete, plastic, foam or rubber compounds to improve the aesthetic look of the blocks.
Northern Tyre Disposals see this environmental process as a big step to reducing the already huge problem of waste tyre disposal and as a way to conserve dwindling stocks of aggregate.
Used tyres are difficult to dispose of because the thermally processed polymers are hard to break down. Left on open ground they are unsightly, encourage mosquitoes and could result in an uncontrolled fire that is exceptionally difficult to extinguish. Until the baling option became viable, tyres were buried in landfills, used as barriers, cut up for insulation, shredded to form products such as carpet underlay or used as a fuel in specially constructed, high temperature furnaces. All of these options have their advantages and disadvantages but making URRO blocks for the construction industry is the most cost effective and energy efficient way to recycle old vehicle tyres.
