Why Are Tires in Landfills a Problem?

Posted by allenlu on August 31st, 2021

The most obvious problem with storing used tires in landfills is the fact they take up so much space. They are large and relatively heavy, with around 75% void space. They are also prone to the capture of methane gas. This affects their density and causes them to warp and rise to the surface of refuse piles. In some cases, warped tires actually damage landfill structures by creating holes in ground fortifications.

There’s also a risk of serious destruction if any tire piles ignite. Some synthetic rubbers are highly flammable and, when put in close proximity to other deteriorating gases, the danger of rapidly developing blazes is ever present. Tire fires can burn for months at a time and they release toxic gases into the atmosphere. Tyre Shredding Business is Profitable because rubber can be recycled in many ways

For this reason alone, it’s a substantial risk to store large volumes of used tires in one location. Of course, not everybody is responsible enough to take their old tires to a landfill. Illegal discards continue to be a problem, particularly in forests, parks and other ecologically sensitive environments. Dumped tire piles have the potential to attract mosquitoes and rats.

On a more positive note, some landfills now recycle and reuse tires to strengthen their fortifications. For instance, shredded rubber is a useful alternative for construction aggregates like sand. It can be applied to small scale back fill venting systems and leachate collection processes, as well as serving as ‘topper’ material for refuse.

Recycled rubber is used for all these purposes, but it must be handled with care. It is not a suitable ‘topper’ material in landfills located close to water reserves. The heavy metals inside can leak directly into wet soil and cause groundwater pollution. For this reason, topper use in landfills is limited to controlled volumes of rubber.

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