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The Problem: Recyclable products in landfills

Recyclable products have nowhere to go

Recyclable products are facing a challenge as there is nowhere for them. In the past, these products used to be sent to other countries for processing. However, due to a widespread anti-pollution campaign, these countries have now stopped accepting these products. Unfortunately, there is currently no alternative means of processing them domestically. As a result, many of these items are ultimately being disposed of in landfills or, even worse, being discarded through methods like incineration.

Rubber Tires

The global predicament surrounding rubber tire waste constitutes a challenge, as billions of vehicle tires are annually removed and disposed of, creating a rugged amalgamation of plastic, rubber, and metal. Managing this waste without causing environmental harm remains an global challenge. Various studies indicate that the global waste tire issue ranges from 1 billion to 1.8 billion used tires discarded worldwide each year, constituting approximately 2-3% of all waste material collected. In the United States alone, an annual disposal of 246 million to 300 million end-of-life tires contributes to this escalating problem.

Compounding the issue is its growth, driven by the expanding global population, particularly the rising middle class in poorer countries gaining increased access to vehicles. This surge in vehicle use results in higher tire replacement rates, further exacerbating the challenge of dealing with the mounting volume of waste tires.

The composition of tires, incorporating natural and synthetic rubber, polymer fabric, high-carbon steel reinforcing wire, and various fillers, contributes significantly to large landfills globally. Shockingly, at least two-thirds of the billions of tires discarded worldwide each year end up in legal or illegal waste sites, occupying substantial landfill space.

These waste tire dumpsites not only pose environmental hazards but also attract disease-carrying rodents, rendering the land useless and emitting harmful chemicals into the atmosphere as the tires slowly decompose. The disposal problem extends to the method of incineration, as burning tires releases carcinogenic and mutagenic toxins into the atmosphere. Despite the potential for relatively safe incineration using advanced air emission control systems, the high cost renders these systems inaccessible to waste management in developing countries and often unprofitable in larger economies.

Furthermore, the environmental impact extends beyond landfills, as used tires are frequently found discarded in natural environments, rivers, and oceans. Research, such as a 2017 study by Pieter Jan Kole at The Open University of The Netherlands, indicates that tires contribute significantly to overall microplastic waste in the world’s oceans, accounting for as much as 10 percent. Another report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2017 places this number at 28 percent, underscoring the pervasive and detrimental influence of discarded tires on global ecosystems. Addressing this multifaceted issue requires urgent and coordinated efforts on a global scale to develop sustainable solutions for tire disposal and recycling.

Rubber Tires

The global predicament surrounding rubber tire waste constitutes a challenge, as billions of vehicle tires are annually removed and disposed of, creating a rugged amalgamation of plastic, rubber, and metal. Managing this waste without causing environmental harm remains an global challenge. Various studies indicate that the global waste tire issue ranges from 1 billion to 1.8 billion used tires discarded worldwide each year, constituting approximately 2-3% of all waste material collected. In the United States alone, an annual disposal of 246 million to 300 million end-of-life tires contributes to this escalating problem.

Compounding the issue is its growth, driven by the expanding global population, particularly the rising middle class in poorer countries gaining increased access to vehicles. This surge in vehicle use results in higher tire replacement rates, further exacerbating the challenge of dealing with the mounting volume of waste tires.

The composition of tires, incorporating natural and synthetic rubber, polymer fabric, high-carbon steel reinforcing wire, and various fillers, contributes significantly to large landfills globally. Shockingly, at least two-thirds of the billions of tires discarded worldwide each year end up in legal or illegal waste sites, occupying substantial landfill space.

These waste tire dumpsites not only pose environmental hazards but also attract disease-carrying rodents, rendering the land useless and emitting harmful chemicals into the atmosphere as the tires slowly decompose. The disposal problem extends to the method of incineration, as burning tires releases carcinogenic and mutagenic toxins into the atmosphere. Despite the potential for relatively safe incineration using advanced air emission control systems, the high cost renders these systems inaccessible to waste management in developing countries and often unprofitable in larger economies.

Furthermore, the environmental impact extends beyond landfills, as used tires are frequently found discarded in natural environments, rivers, and oceans. Research, such as a 2017 study by Pieter Jan Kole at The Open University of The Netherlands, indicates that tires contribute significantly to overall microplastic waste in the world’s oceans, accounting for as much as 10 percent. Another report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2017 places this number at 28 percent, underscoring the pervasive and detrimental influence of discarded tires on global ecosystems. Addressing this multifaceted issue requires urgent and coordinated efforts on a global scale to develop sustainable solutions for tire disposal and recycling.

Plastics

In the late 1800s, the speed of human manufacturing became constrained by the limited amounts of metal, wood, bone, tusk, and horn. John Wesley Hyatt invented the first synthetic polymer in 1869 as a replacement for ivory with the growing popularity of billiards. WWII pushed the expansion of plastics with the need for synthetic substitutes to preserve natural resources and help expand the US military. After the war, plastic production challenged traditional markets as a cheaper and easier alternative for producing consumer goods. Replacing natural materials with plastic has made goods more affordable, lighter, safer, and stronger.

The main problem with plastic is that it can last forever. Not only is it an eyesore, but plastics contain chemicals such as BPA’s, which we now know leach into our food, water, and ultimately our bodies. Innovators are always searching for ways to make recycling better and more efficient. Still, the amount of plastic in our landfills and water is so large that a more immediate and long-term solution must be made.

Plastic Waste
It takes moments to create a plastic bottle, but it never truly decomposes, and only “breaks down” into smaller and smaller fragments.
Plastic waste congests landfills, clogs waterways and has formed an oceanic plastic island three times the size of France.*
By 2015, 8.3 billion tons of plastic had been generated, and 6.3 billion tons had become waste in landfills and waterways.**
If current trends continue, 12 billion tonnes of plastic waste will be in landfills and polluting waterways and oceans by 2050.**

A CLEARER PICTURE

  • Despite society being focused on reducing current usage, the pace of plastic production shows no signs of slowing.
  • Recycling is only addressing 9% of total production.*
  • Incinerating or landfilling compounds the problem by releasing harmful toxins into the air and leaching into groundwater.
  • Studies show that microplastics are showing up in our food chain (i.e., animal tissues, sea salt).
  • Available landfill capacity is diminishing <25 years.*
  • Legislation globally is trending towards bans on plastics in landfills, but only in developed countries.
  • Global markets for recycled plastics are shrinking or shutting down due to oversupply and low demand.
Reality is – economics will always prevail.

Our Solution: Recyclable Products to Biofuel

Rubber Tire and Plastic waste now needs to be treated as a valuable resource. Through our advanced technology, we take what was once waste and convert it back into its original form: a valuable petrochemical by-product – a source of biofuel for all Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) power-plants.

Our Solution: Recyclable Products to Biofuel

Rubber Tire and Plastic waste now needs to be treated as a valuable resource. Through our advanced technology, we take what was once waste and convert it back into its original form: a valuable petrochemical by-product – a source of biofuel for all Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) power-plants.
Learn More About Our Solution