I changed tires on my vehicle, how can they be recycled?

The tires have a lifetime and it is best to get rid of them once they have fulfilled their function. Using or selling them in a state of wear can cause an unwanted accident, as they represent a danger. In Ecuador, the National Traffic Agency considers among its 28 probable causes of road accidents mechanical failures in tire systems.

The company specialized in the manufacture of tires, Michelin, indicates on its website that After five years of use, a review of the product is necessary. The Michelin company recommends changing them immediately if:

• The tread is worn beyond the recommended tread depth levels.
• The side has damage.
• Any hole in the tread is greater than 6mm in diameter.
• The bead is damaged or deformed (the bead is the edge of the rim that sits on the wheel).

At the end of the useful life of the tires the ideal would be to recycle them. In Ecuador, there are several companies that are in charge of this process, among them: Grupo Tractomaq, Ecocaucho and Seginus. It is necessary to contact them and they are in charge of the collection to then give a new life to what were once tires, be it energy, flooring, material for artisans, etc.

Tire recycling aims to reduce the environmental impact caused by used tires, its main objective being to provide comprehensive management of waste management and treatment. In order to ensure the maximum reuse of all its manufacturing components, allowing the extraction of raw material for industrial use from these.

After the collection of tires, the recycling process consists of trituration. Subsequently, they go through granulating machines, in which they separate different materials that are part of the tires, such as rubber, steel or textile fiber. These elements can be used for another purpose.

Shredded tire material can be used to make rugs, pet beds, planters. Crushed rubber grain is also used for the construction of sports fields.

By mixing bituminous asphalt with rubber dust, this component extends the useful life of the asphalt up to three times, which is known as modified asphalt, a great alternative to use on roads. (YO)