Most people don't think about what happens to their old tires after they're replaced. But the tire recycling process is a fascinating journey that turns a waste product into valuable materials used in construction, energy production, landscaping, and manufacturing.
Collection & Transportation
The process starts with collection. Waste tires are picked up from tire retailers, auto shops, fleet operations, municipalities, and property owners. At Eco Tire Solutions, every pickup is documented with a manifest that tracks the tires from origin to final destination.
In South Carolina, all waste tire haulers must be registered with DHEC (Department of Health and Environmental Control). This ensures tires are transported legally and responsibly — not dumped illegally.
Initial Shredding
Whole tires are fed into industrial shredders that cut them into smaller pieces. The first pass typically produces 2-inch tire chips. These chips can be used directly as Tire-Derived Fuel (TDF) or processed further into smaller sizes.
Our TDF chip size ranges from 39mm down to 24mm (approximately 1.5" down to 1") — the specification range required by most cement kilns and industrial boilers.
Steel & Fiber Separation
Tires contain steel belts and textile fibers that need to be removed for many end products. Powerful magnets extract the steel (which is recycled separately), and air classification systems remove the fiber. The result is clean rubber material ready for further processing.
Granulation (Crumb Rubber Production)
For products that require finer material, the rubber chips are processed through granulators that reduce them to crumb rubber — small granules measured in "mesh" sizes. Common sizes include:
- 10 mesh (~2mm) — Playground surfacing, molded products
- 20 mesh (~0.85mm) — Sports turf infill
- 30 mesh (~0.6mm) — Rubberized asphalt
- 80-100 mesh (~0.15-0.18mm) — Fine rubber powder for manufacturing
End Products
The processed tire material becomes valuable products used across multiple industries:
🔥 Tire-Derived Fuel (TDF)
Supplemental fuel for cement kilns and industrial boilers. Higher BTU content than coal.
⚽ Crumb Rubber
Infill for synthetic turf, playground surfacing, rubberized asphalt, and molded products.
🌿 Rubber Mulch
Long-lasting landscaping mulch that doesn't decompose or attract pests.
🏗️ Rubber Mats & Products
Gym mats, horse stall mats, anti-fatigue mats, and industrial flooring.
The Environmental Impact
Tire recycling isn't just good business — it's essential for the environment. When tires are recycled instead of dumped:
- ♻️ Landfill space is preserved
- 🦟 Mosquito breeding grounds are eliminated
- 🔥 Fire hazards from tire stockpiles are reduced
- 🏭 Fossil fuel consumption is offset by TDF
- 🌍 Valuable materials are recovered instead of wasted
- 👷 Local jobs are created in the recycling industry
Have Tires That Need Recycling?
We handle the entire process — from pickup to product. Schedule your tire pickup today.