Tyre fires, some caused by arsonists, are a major problem in the UK, and the worst of them can take several years to put out completely. They cause serious air, ground, and water pollution. Every year, 25 million vehicle tyres in the UK are scrapped. Although many go into licensed landfills, many others go into illegal stores. Dumped tyres do not biodegrade; they tend to last for ever, or eventually catch fire. The UK's first commercial tyre incinerator opened in October 1993; it will generate electric power, and could significantly reduce the proportion of tyres going into landfills or being dumped. The Government recently asked for new ideas on how to recycle tyres. About 50% of lorry tyres and 20% of car tyres are now recycled by being retreaded. Small industries have also developed, to break up tyres into re-usable rubber `crumb', or make new rubber products. The present crisis in disposing of rubber tyres has arisen from many local authorities' refusal to permit the burial of whole tyres, and the dramatic change in the market for remoulding old tyres in 1990. As a result many more tyres are being dumped, so that uses for old tyres urgently need to be found, and several possibilities are already being investigated.
Samenvatting