Waste tyres are a major environmental concern with approximately 18 million waste tyres generated in Australia each year. Tyres are a valuable source of rubber that can be re-used or recycled to prevent litter, avoid fire hazards, save energy and prevent against environmental contamination
Tyres - Passenger Vehicles
Tyres - Passenger Vehicles includes:
Rubber Tyres - Passenger Vehiclesmaterial
Tyres - Passenger Vehicles
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Why Recycle?
Each year in Australia, the equivalent of 48 million tyres reach the end of their life, only 16% of these are domestically recycled. Around two thirds of used tyres in Australia end up in landfill, are stockpiled, illegally dumped or have an unknown fate.
Waste tyres are a valuable resource that can be re-used, recycled into a range of new products or used as energy. Recycling waste tyres prevents littering of landscapes and waterways, saves energy, avoids fire risks caused by stockpiled tyres (and the release of toxic gases if set alight) and long-term land contamination due to the disposal of tyres in landfill.
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Tyre Stewardship Australia
In recent years all governments have worked with industry to establish Tyre Stewardship Australia (TSA), and the voluntary industry funded tyre product stewardship scheme. This tyre scheme aims to increase both the number of tyres recycled in Australia and the use of products made with recycled material. Tyre industry participants who apply for, and gain TSA accreditation must commit to playing their part in sustainable end-of-life use for tyres.
It is estimated that if a quarter million tonnes of end-of-life tyres in Australia were recycled, it would be the equivalent "everyday" Green House Gas savings of driving a car 1.2 billion km or 31 thousand times around the equator.1
Environmental Benefits of Commercial Recycling for Tyres
"Everyday" and unit savings per tonne of tyres2 recycled:
Greenhouse
5,179 km driven3
1.07 tonnes CO2e
Energy
35 houses' energy for a month4
64.08 GJ LHV (17,814 kWh)
Water
298 bath tubs5
52.25 kL water
Waste
19 wheelie bins6
1.07 tonnes
For an explanation of key terms used, please visit our Glossary.
Recycling Options
Waste tyres can be re-used and recycled in a variety of ways, from creating collision reduction barriers, as an alternate fuel source and in road construction as a constituent in asphalt roads. There are many companies in Australia that offer convenient tyre recycling services.
What Happens When Tyres Are Recycled?
Recycling: Tyres are a mixture of many different ingredients. Apart from rubber, tyres contain steel, fibre, carbon and oil. During recycling processes, tyres are shredded and crumbed so they can be used in the manufacture of soft fall surfaces, artificial turf, conveyer belts, brake pads and other rubber products. The TSA aims to not only increase domestic tyre recycling but to expand the market for tyre-derived products and support the development of new technologies such as Pyrolysis.
Energy recovery: Waste tyres can be used as an alternative fuel source for industries such as producers of energy and cement. When tyres are incinerated at high temperatures hydrocarbons are released which can yield substantial quantities of energy. However, this process is not currently widespread in Australia as it can require investment in new technology.
More Info & Sources
1. Hyder Consulting (2009) Waste and Recycling in Australia: Amended report. Hyder Consulting, Melbourne
2. Data for rubber tyres (Commercial & Industrial and Construction & Demolition recycling only) contained in Table 4 (p.14) Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Environmental Benefits of Recycling, DECCW, Sydney South
3. “Everyday” greenhouse gas emission savings expressed as number of kilometers driven by an average new passenger and light commercial vehicle (206.6g CO2e / km). National Transport Commission (2012) Carbon Dioxide Emissions from New Australian Vehicles 2011 Information Paper
4. “Everyday” cumulative energy demand savings expressed as average household monthly electricity requirements (500 kWh). 1GJ LHV = 278kWh (GJ LHV = Giga-joules of fossil energy (low heating value); kWh = Kilowatt hour)
5. “Everyday” water savings corresponding to average sized bath tubs (0.175 kL capacity).
6. “Everyday” solid waste savings represented by number of average sized wheelie bins (55kg capacity)
