How does burning tires affect the environment?
Waste tires pose a significant environmental problem due to their non-biodegradable nature, large volume, and flammability. According to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 300 million tires are discarded annually in the United States alone, with only about 15% being recycled. The remaining tires are either sent to landfills, illegally dumped, or incinerated for energy recovery, which inevitably leads to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, tire burning is considered an unsustainable and potentially hazardous method of waste tire disposal. It poses numerous environmental threats and various risks to public health. However, in certain circumstances, burning tires can also help manage this type of waste to some extent. This article will delve into the risks associated with tire burning and explore alternative disposal options for the 1.5 billion discarded tires produced globally each year. What happens if you burn your tires? Air pollution The air pollution caused by tire burning kilns is extremely significant. Burning tires releases large amounts of toxic pollutants into the air, including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM), including fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. The heavy metals and other harmful pollutants...
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