Tyres
- Since July 2006, under the EU Landfill Directive, whole or shredded tyres can no longer be sent to landfill for disposal.
- However, bicycle, tractor, and large truck (HGV) tyres are excluded from the Directive
- It is estimated that 450,000 tonnes of tyres are discarded annually in the UK, with over 100,000 worn tyres taken off vehicles every day.
Reduce
Vehicle tyres are a necessary consumable in any vehicle fleet and in order to maintain safety, legality and fuel efficiency tyres do need to be replaced periodically on both goods vehicles and staff vehicles.
For information on final disposal of vehicles and all components, visit EiE's End of Life Vehicles Page
However, there are a number of steps that an organisation can take to limit the frequency of tyre replacement.
For organisations with fleet vehicles - particularly commercial vehicles, such as vans and HGVs, sending drivers on 'refresher' course and efficient driving courses can save costs, both in terms of reduced wear and tear on vehicles (and tyres) and in terms of fuel efficiency. These courses are sometimes part funded by the DfT. Click here for more information on SAFED [LINK to a transport page - more info on SAFED and requirements - Information on driving techniques, braking, wheel balancing - all of which can prolong the life of tyres. If your business employs drivers advising them on driving techniques can help save money.
For more information and local providers of courses see Safe and Efficient Driving Courses and Sigma Studies.
Regular vehicle maintenance can also play a part in prolonging tyre life. Ensuring that tyre pressures are correct both for the vehicle and the load makes vehicles safer, more fuel efficient and reduces wear on tyres.
For 'company cars' maintenance of tyres is equally important, to reduce tyre wear and maximise fuel efficiency. For many company car users, there can be the temptation to ignore all vehicle issues until a problem occurs (with tyres and other issues) on the assumption that it is the company that will bear the costs of any repairs. Ensuing that company car users are aware of potential issues such as tyre pressure, and are trained to keep cars well maintained can save costs on tyres and other repair bills. Regular inspections of vehicles can ensure that vehicles are properly maintained (both in tyre care and other aspects of vehicle maintenance).
However, although prolonging the life of tyres is a good way to save money and reduce waste, it is equally important to replace tyres when the reach the end of their life. For more information on the legal responsibilities that accompany vehicle tyres see http://www.roadtransport.com/StaticPages/tyresafety.htm
Reuse
Tyres are mostly unsuitable for other applications within a business. They contain harmful chemicals, and after use on roads can be further contaminated.
Once vehicle tyres reach the end of their legal life (see above) they cannot be reused as tyres. However they can be retreaded (remoulded). Retreading involves either replacing only the tread section of a tyre or replacing rubber over the whole outer surface of the tyre, and effectively doubles the life of the tyre. The process involves the removal of the remaining tread and the application and vulcanisation of a new tread (the 'camel back') onto the remaining 'carcass'. Retreading uses nearly half the energy that is needed to produce a new tyre (and uses 4.5 gallons less oil per car tyre and an estimated 15 gallons less oil per commercial vehicle tyre). Car tyres can only be retreaded once, whereas commercial vehicle tyres are designed to be retreaded several times. Tyre retreading is a major industry in the UK.
It is mandatory for retreads to be manufactured according to ECE Regulations 108 (car tyres) and 109 (commercial vehicle tyres). Tyres approved to ECE Regulations are marked with an 'E' number. Ensure that the tyres you buy have this marking.
When sending tyres for remoulding, consider buying remoulds to replace the tyres. Closing the recycling loop not only brings the cost of replacing tyres, but also helps the remoulders offer the service to more customers.
Recycle
The following information excludes bicycle tyre recycling. There is currently no UK system for recycling bicycle tyres. Some cycle shops may accept cycle tyres for private recycling agreements they have with tyre manufactures.
For most businesses, tyres will be recycled as part of maintenance contracts. In practice, most garages make a small disposal charge for old tyres that are removed from vehicles and replaced during servicing etc.
For business that produce large volumes of waste tyres such as garages, a useful starting point for tyre recyclers is the Tyre Recovery Association's (TRA) 'Responsible Recycler' Scheme. The Tyre Recovery Association was set up to provide an externally audited and legally compliant tyre collection service - the 'Responsible Recycler' Scheme. The scheme ensures, through membership, that used tyres are collected legally and responsibly by Environment Agency registered collectors. 80% of the UK's tyre collectors, recyclers and reprocessors are now members of the Responsible Recycler Scheme. To find a local Responsible Recycler member to dispose of your tyres, visit the Tyre Recovery Association website and search by postcode.
Illegal Storage & Dumping of Tyres
There have been problems with companies that claim to collect and environmentally dispose of or recycle tyres, whilst actually dumping or storing them. Therefore it is important to select a collection company carefully. Only registered waste carriers should be used for the collection and transportation of waste tyres.
The Environment Agency has an active campaign to reduce the volume of tyres going into illegal disposal routes. The illegal disposal of tyres is regarded as a serious offence by the agency and carries fines of up to £20,000 and possible imprisonment.
Tyre Recovery Association's (TRA) 'Responsible Recycler' Scheme
The Tyre Recovery Association was set up to provide an externally audited and legally compliant tyre collection service - the 'Responsible Recycler' Scheme. The scheme ensures, through membership, that used tyres are collected legally and responsibly by Environment Agency registered collectors. The tyres are then used for a number of recycled applications including granulation for material recovery, incineration for energy recovery and for civil engineering processes. 80% of the UK's tyre collectors, recyclers and reprocessors are now members of the Responsible Recycler Scheme. To find a local Responsible Recycler member to dispose of your tyres, visit the Tyre Recovery Association website and search by postcode.
Further Information
The Environment Agency's tyre disposal page provides information on how to dispose of tyres and your duty of care.
The Used Tyre Working Group aims to increase awareness of used tyre recovery in the UK, to provide information on the various methods available to re-use, recycle or recover energy from used tyres and to provide a list of companies registered to carry out tyre collection and the recovery disposal process.
The Tyres Programme set up by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) aims to break down the barriers to collection, segregation and reprocessing of waste tyres, to develop alternative end uses for the recovered material, and to develop their markets. They have also produced a clear and concise Tyres Re-use and Recycling Guide.
The Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) is the nationally recognised trade association for UK manufacturers of retreaded tyres. The website provides information on retreading and where to buy retreads.
