What Happens to Your Car Tyres After Scrapping?
A common question we get asked is what happens to the tyres when a car is scrapped. Tyres cannot be sent to landfill due to their environmental impact, so they must be processed carefully. Modern recycling facilities use advanced machinery to ensure that old rubber is repurposed rather than discarded.
The Problem with Old Tyres
Car tyres are incredibly durable, which makes them excellent for driving but terrible for disposal. They take hundreds of years to decompose naturally. If left in piles, they trap water and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Worse still, if they catch fire, they release toxic fumes and thick black smoke that is extremely difficult to extinguish.
- Landfill Bans: Because of these environmental risks, the UK has strictly banned the disposal of whole and shredded tyres in landfill sites.
- Complex Composition: A tyre is not just rubber; it contains steel belts, synthetic textiles, and various chemical compounds, making it a complex item to break down.
The Shredding and Separation Process
Modern recycling facilities use advanced machinery to shred and separate the rubber, steel wire, and textile fibres found in tyres. This process turns old tyres into valuable raw materials.
- Granulation: The tyres are fed into massive industrial shredders that chop them into small pieces. These pieces are then ground down further into fine rubber granules or "crumb rubber".
- Steel Extraction: Powerful magnets are passed over the shredded material to pull out the high-tensile steel wire. This steel is perfectly clean and is sent directly to foundries to be melted down and reused.
- Fibre Removal: Air vacuums are used to extract the lightweight synthetic textile fibres, which can be repurposed into insulation materials or carpet underlay.
New Life for Old Rubber
The recycled rubber can be used for a wide range of products. It is frequently used to create shock-absorbing playground surfaces, running tracks, and equestrian arenas. It is even being mixed into asphalt to create quieter, more durable road surfaces.
At Ben Whitcombe Ltd, we ensure that every part of your scrapped vehicle, including the tyres, is dealt with responsibly. We work with specialised recycling partners to guarantee that nothing goes to waste. By choosing our services, you are supporting a sustainable recycling programme that benefits the environment across Somerset.
Call us today to dispose of your vehicle responsibly and sustainably.