WHAT HAPPENS
TO YOUR TIRES?
Not only are discarded tires ugly to look at, they also pose a number of health risks. They present a fire hazard that can produce toxic fumes. When left out in the open, they collect water and become a breeding ground for mosquitos including those carrying West Nile Virus. The good news is, while tires are nasty when they're discarded, they're a valuable source of material that can be turned into new products and new jobs.
WHAT IS RECYCLED
Almost every type of tire can be recycling in Alberta. The most common are those found on your car or truck. However, Alberta's tire recycling program includes off-road tires and specialty tires that are used on construction and industrial equipment. The six million tires Albertans discard every year are diverted from landfills, made into shred or crumbs and put to good use once again as new products.
HOW ARE TIRES PROCESSED
The scrap tires are picked up from tires shops, vehicle dealers, automotive repair shops or municipal collection sites across the province by the registered tire processors. The tires are run through a shredder, which is the final stage of processing for almost half the scrap tires generated in a year, and the other half of the tires are processed into crumb rubber.
WHAT IT BECOMES
Recycled scrap tires are turned into:
Drainage material in municipal landfills, replacing expensive washed rock
Playground surfaces
Sidewalk blocks, matting products and roofing tiles
Mulch for landscaping
Whatever innovative Albertans will think of next!
Find out more about the products made with Alberta's scrap tires.
MADE FROM 100%
RECYCLED MATERIALS
QUICK
FACTS
The equivalent of 109 million car tires have been recycled since the program began in 1992.
The equivalent of six million car tires are recycled annually.
In April, 2011 the tire program expanded to include off-road, industrial and specialty tires.
Since 2000, 630 grants totaling $12.6 million have benefited Alberta communities across the province.
There are 343 municipal collection sites throughout the province that accept tires for recycling.
Products manufactured from recycled tires include surfacing for playgrounds, molded products such as mats and sidewalk blocks, mulch for landscaping and loose crumb in sports fields.
Research and development projects: testing tires shred ('tire-derived aggregate') as lightweight embankment fill for highway overpass construction and in rural road applications.
