Eco India: How can India deal with its mounting tyre waste?

Summary

India's automobile market has become the third largest globally, contributing to a surge in tire waste, with approximately 275,000 tires discarded daily. While some tires are recycled, many end up in landfills or are used in harmful pyrolysis processes. A growing trend in tire recycling focuses on upcycling waste into materials like Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB), used in road construction. Though environmentally beneficial, CRMB adoption is slow due to lack of awareness and government policies. India's role as a global tire dumping ground adds to the urgency for better recycling practices and infrastructure development.

Takeaways

• 😀 India is the third-largest automobile market in the world, surpassing Japan, with over 4 million vehicles sold in 2023.
• 😀 Tire production in India rose by 27% in 2023, contributing to an increasing demand for tire disposal and recycling.
• 😀 Close to 275,000 tires are discarded every day in India, with an average tire life of 5 years or 50,000 km.
• 😀 Most end-of-life tires are either dumped in landfills or sent to scrap dealers, with many never reaching the recycling market.
• 😀 The recycling process for tires is challenging, with radial tires requiring machinery for processing, unlike easier-to-handle nylon tires.
• 😀 More than 3 million waste tires were scrapped in India in 2023, but the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting.
• 😀 Pyrolysis, a method for recycling tires, is controversial due to environmental concerns, as over half of such plants in India violate guidelines.
• 😀 Incinerating tires or dumping them in landfills poses serious environmental risks, including pollution and pest infestations.
• 😀 Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB) is a sustainable material created from recycled tire rubber, used for road construction.
• 😀 CRMB technology has environmental benefits, such as reducing the carbon footprint by using waste rubber to create infrastructure.
• 😀 The widespread adoption of CRMB is hindered by a lack of industry awareness and the absence of mandatory regulations for tire recycling in India.
• 😀 India is also a dumping ground for waste tires from other countries, importing nearly 9 million tons of tires in 2023, further straining its recycling systems.
• 😀 The Indian government has made tire recycling mandatory for manufacturers, but full implementation of these policies is still a challenge.
• 😀 CRMB has significant potential in road infrastructure, with approximately 15,000 waste tires needed to build one kilometer of road.
• 😀 The Indian government could further promote green technologies like CRMB by offering subsidies and supporting environmentally friendly recycling processes.

Q & A

What is the size of India's automobile market, and how does it relate to tire production?

India is the third-largest automobile market in the world, having surpassed Japan in 2023 with over 4 million vehicles sold. This growth in the automobile industry directly correlates to an increase in tire production, which rose by 27% in the same year.

How many tires are discarded in India every day, and what happens to them?

Nearly 275,000 tires are discarded every day in India. Many of these tires end up in landfills, and a large portion is not even sent to the scrap market. Some tires are recycled, but a significant number are also disposed of improperly, which poses environmental risks.

What is the typical lifespan of a tire, and what happens when it reaches the end of its life?

The average lifespan of a tire is about 5 years or 50,000 km, whichever comes first. Once a tire reaches the end of its life, it is either discarded as waste or sold to scrap dealers for recycling.

What are the environmental risks associated with improper disposal of tires?

Improper disposal of tires, such as dumping them in landfills or burning them, can cause serious environmental damage. Landfills may become breeding grounds for pests, while burning tires releases harmful pollutants into the air, contributing to air pollution and ecosystem degradation.

What is pyrolysis, and why is it considered detrimental to the environment?

Pyrolysis is a process where rubber is liquefied to create industrial oil. It is considered harmful because it is an energy-intensive process that often flouts environmental regulations, and the resulting oil is a low-quality byproduct that can harm the environment.

How does the upcycling of tires into crumb rubber contribute to sustainability?

Upcycling waste tires into crumb rubber involves processing them into a material that can be used in road construction. This not only recycles waste but also improves road durability and reduces the need for new materials, thus contributing to environmental sustainability.

What is Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB), and how is it used in road construction?

Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB) is a material created by mixing crumb rubber with bitumen, which is then used in road construction. It enhances road durability by preventing oxidation and improving heat resistance, making roads last longer under high traffic loads and extreme temperatures.

What are the environmental benefits of using CRMB for road construction?

Using CRMB for road construction reduces carbon footprints significantly. It allows for the recycling of waste tires, reduces the need for new raw materials, and contributes to the creation of more resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Why is CRMB not widely used by infrastructure companies in India?

The use of CRMB is not widespread in India due to a lack of awareness among infrastructure companies about its benefits. Additionally, there is no formal mandate or incentive from the government to encourage the use of recycled materials in road construction.

How has the Indian government addressed the issue of tire waste and recycling?

In July 2022, the Indian government made it mandatory for tire manufacturers and importers to recycle end-of-life tires as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy. However, its implementation has been slow, and there are challenges in sourcing recycled materials and promoting green technologies like CRMB.