The Scrap Car Tire Disposal Problem : Alternative Strategies for a Rubber Reclaimer

Abstract

Twenty-three million car tires are discarded annually in the United Kingdom. The majority of these are dumped or otherwise abandoned with no recycling taking place. Suitable sites for the dumping of scrap car tires are becoming increasingly difficult to find, and there is a growing realisation of the need for a more effective resource conservation policy. There are a number of different strategies open to a rubber recycling enterprise. New methods for recycling scrap tires have been developed which include energy recovery by incineration or pyrolytic techniques, and materials recovery by a variety of physical and chemical processes. The method to be adopted depends not only on technical feasibility but on economic viability; of crucial importance being the level of demand for the recycled products. The main problems facing the rubber recycling industry are an inability to process modern tires, and declining demand for the recycled rubber. Short and long term strategies have been derived for the solution of these problems. Although designed to be of practical application, these strategies were also formulated with reference to the theory of recycling. The detailed examination of an actual recycling problem and the constraints affecting a commercial enterprise provides a case study for the assessment of such theories. It is concluded that resource conservation is not adequately promoted by the market mechanism and that some form of government intervention is desirable. A possible policy for government assistance for rubber recycling is presented.