|
|
| |
This is a tough one, but one that is serious enough for several
companies to have begun looking for answers. Something like 240
million tires are discarded in the U.S. each year. These tires pose a
very serious threat to the environment. Aside from taking up huge
amounts of landfill space, they tend to rise to the top. Tires catch
on fire very easily, and this can result in a very dangerous
situation.
Only about 20%% of used tires are suitable for retreading. Some old
tires wind up padding docks and swinging in back yards, but until
recently, most of them have just been piling up. Recently,
entrepreneurs have been trying to find uses for old tires. They are
shredding them for fuel, mixing them with highway asphalt and using
them to soften airport runways. One company uses the tires for rubber
mats, garbage cans and other products.
Since tire disposal costs are skyrocketing, state and city
regulations are going to have a big effect on how it's done. Disposal
costs range from twenty five to fifty cents a tire. One state has
begun to have a surcharge on new tire sales in order to finance
disposal.
What can you do right now? Try to make your tires last as long as is
safely possible. Buy long-lasting, fuel efficient tires. Check with
your dealer about "rolling resistance" and mileage performance before
you buy tires. Keep your tires properly inflated, balanced and
rotated.
Don't dispose of tires yourself. If they can't be recapped, give them
to the dealer where you buy your new tires and request that they be
properly disposed of.
|
|
|
|
|
