A tire reaches the end-of-life stage when it can no longer be utilized on vehicles after being regrooved or re-treaded. All tires, including those for passenger cars, trucks, airplanes, two-wheelers, and off-road vehicles, eventually become end-of-life tires (ELTs). According to Inkwood Research, the global end-of-life tire (ELT) management market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.87% from 2023 to 2032, reaching a revenue of $14,795.57 million by 2032.

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Environmental Impact of ELTs – A Global Concern

Despite the recovery rate of scrap tires estimated at 90% in Europe and the United States, nearly 4 billion ELTs are currently in landfills and stockpiles worldwide, with projections increasing to 5 billion by 2030. The significant waste flow of ELTs poses severe environmental and health risks, leading to water, air, and soil pollution. The National Institutes of Health categorizes this non-biodegradable waste as non-hazardous, but its impact remains concerning. Tires release chemicals into the air, ground, and water, altering ecosystems. Additionally, stockpiled tires emit methane gas, increasing the carbon footprint and contributing to climate change.

To address the ecological impact of end-of-life tires, significant research and development initiatives have been undertaken by tire companies, ELT management enterprises, scientific laboratories, government regulators, and industrial partners. These efforts focus on finding effective and environmentally sound uses for ELT materials, establishing new recovery routes, complying with reporting obligations, and promoting efficient product standards.

Major End-of-Life Tire (ELT) Treatment Technologies

ELTs contribute to sustainable development by reducing natural resource depletion and the environmental costs associated with resource exploitation. ELT treatment technologies and services are rapidly growing and gaining significant market shares globally.

Rubber Remediation

The market for ELT management through rubber remediation has evolved significantly over the last decade. This growth is driven by stringent environmental protection regulations and company efforts to incentivize the use of scrap tire-derived products. According to Inkwood Research, the rubber remediation segment is projected to capture the highest market share of 72.03% by 2032. Government regulations also address the environmental concerns of illicitly disposed of or stockpiled tires, a common tire disposal method in many countries. For instance, India's Union environment ministry's new draft notification (2021) proposes regulating waste tire disposal through extended producer responsibility (EPR), ensuring that manufacturers and importers of tires recycle their products per government standards.

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Scrap Tire Treatment

Scrap tires present significant challenges due to their size, shape, and environmental hazards, including fire risks, emission of dangerous oils and soot, and breeding grounds for pests. These factors underscore the need for scrap tire treatment and recycling. According to Inkwood Research, scrap tire treatment is expected to be the fastest-growing treatment technology, with a CAGR of 5.26% by 2032. The treatment technology category includes mechanical, thermal, and cryogenic technologies:

- Mechanical Technology: Expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.42% during the forecast period, mechanical treatment technologies are crucial for scrap tire management, especially in developing countries due to their low operational costs and simplicity.

- Thermal Technology: These technologies decompose scrap tires in the absence of oxygen. The thermal technology segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of 4.88% during the forecast period. Pyrolysis, a common thermal destruction technology, is used by companies like Scandinavian Enviro Systems AB to recover steel, carbon black, oil, and gas from waste tires.

- Cryogenic Technology: More precise and predictable than mechanical and thermal processing, cryogenic methods produce the finest product. Companies like Lehigh Technologies Inc utilize cryogenic turbo mill technology to manufacture products from ELT materials and post-industrial rubber.

The decline in land availability for landfills, the need to reduce worker exposure and liability, and increased environmental safety awareness have elevated scrap tire management technologies. These technologies, combined with energy production and new material applications, are pivotal in augmenting the global end-of-life tire (ELT) management market during the forecast years.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) –

1.     How do waste tires impact human health? A: Waste tires take up valuable space in landfills, thus creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This exposes communities to health risks, such as West Nile Virus, Encephalitis, and Zika Virus.