Chances are you've been in a car recently. You've likely even been behind the wheel, driven to work or dropped the little ones off at school. Cars, and all of their accessories, are a part of our life for better and for worse. There is little question that automobiles impact our planet, but there are some things we can do to make sure the rubber that meets the road doesn't end up wasting away in our landfills.
That's right, we are talking tires. Every year the United States disposes an average of one tire per person, which equates to approximately 27 million tires per year. That's a lot of tires and consequently, its also a lot of waste. All these tires take up much needed space in our landfills. Stockpiled tires can easily cause dangerous fires and burn for long periods of time, releasing toxic pollution into the air.
There are a lot of ways tires can be reused and recycled, and around 75% of tires end up being reused in one form or another. Some companies are making shoes, others are producing playground surfaces, floor mats and even office supplies. The list is truly endless, and tires are a great example of how innovation can create great things with old products. Check out the CA Gov's Cal Recycle page for more recycled tire uses.
Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site
The recycling is fascinating. A recycled aluminum beverage can returns to the grocer's shelf as a new, filled can in as little as 60 days. Pretty fast, right? Fast and eco-friendly, just the way we like it. Certainly, the turnaround time for aluminum can recycling makes stashing your cans in the appropriate bin a worthwhile endeavor.