Annually fall in Germany around 570.000 tons of used tires that need to be disposed of. In addition to car tires, this also includes truck, motorcycle, solid rubber and agricultural tractor tires.
These can be disposed of in various ways: either through a workshop, through a car dealer or through a specialist dealer who then disposes of the used tires properly or by handing in the tires at the municipal recycling center.
Despite the various options for professional disposal, many used tires are still disposed of illegally.
Increase in illegal disposal
Environmental polluters dispose of their tires in forests, on dirt roads or in rivers. Once a tire is discarded, it usually doesn't take long for more tires to be added - creating large, illegal landfills that are not only unsightly but also harmful to the environment, as a tire does not rot and thus becomes an environmental risk .
Illegally discarded tires can also become dangerous if they catch fire. This usually occurs through arson and can have devastating consequences. Not only the acrid, dense smoke from the tires is a problem, but also the intense heat that develops in a fire.
High penalties for environmental offenders
In order to take action against environmental polluters, the federal states have imposed high penalties for illegal disposal of used tires. Depending on the federal state, a single illegally disposed old tire is subject to a fine of up to 300 euros. If more than five old tires are dumped, there is a risk of a four-digit fine.
In Lower Saxony, the illegal dumping of used tires is particularly expensive: up to 25.000 euros fine can be imposed on an environmental offender here.
Here You will find an overview of the fines in the individual federal states.
The problem with illegal scrap tire disposal
But the imposition of high fines is usually ineffective, because a large number of perpetrators get away with it. Most of the time they dump the used tires at night in remote places and therefore there are no witnesses. So the city or the state - and ultimately the citizens - are left with the costs for professional disposal.
Another problem is the illegal disposal scrap tires on unused or unattended private property. The city has no power here, as the owner has to arrange for the eviction. If he doesn't do this, the cities can only pay in advance and have the old tires disposed of - and then usually have to bear the costs.
If there is a real danger from illegal tire dumping - for example because toxic substances can seep into the ground or a fire can start - it is no longer just a misdemeanor, but a criminal offense that must be clarified by the public prosecutor's office.
Recycling old tires
That is why it is all the more important to have used tires disposed of by certified disposal companies. This is the only way to ensure that the tires are properly disposed of and recycled.
A tire consists not only of Rubber. Although this makes up a large part, a tire also consists of steel, textiles and residual materials.
When recycling tires, the rubber part is used for asphalt or artificial turf, the steel part is melted down and the textile part is incinerated. In this way, the old tire has a sustainable use and does not pose a threat to the environment.
Proper disposal of old tires
So that a used tire can also be properly recycled, it should first be examined by a specialist – ideally by a certified disposal company. Be careful of black sheep here! These take old tires at favorable conditions in order to resell them profitably or to dispose of them illegally.
Reputable, certified waste management companies, on the other hand, have the necessary knowledge and the appropriate systems for recycling, as well as business contacts. Other features are also a Partnership with the ZARE initiative and the certification required for this by the Federal Association of Tire Trade and Vulcanizing Trades (BRV).
Source: Fines catalog 2017
