Bonn, August 13, 2024 An illegal tire warehouse with an estimated 25.000 old tires was discovered on a former company site in Porta Westfalica. The old tires pose a significant fire risk.
According to estimates by the authorities, around 25.000 old tires are stored on a former shipping site in Porta Westfalica. The stacks of tires, several meters high, pose an acute fire hazard: Old tires are mainly made of rubber, which is not easily flammable but is difficult to extinguish once it has caught fire. In addition, when stored, the tires form a so-called "internal structure" in which hidden embers and fires can develop. These are difficult to see from the outside and can continue to smolder long after a visible fire.
In Germany, tires must be disposed of in accordance with the circular economy. The medium-sized economy in Germany is excellently positioned in this area and produces new products from old tires, such as stable mats, tartan tracks or exhibition floors.
In order to produce these new products, the old tires must be sorted by certified disposal companies and then used for the appropriate purposes. The sorting and recycling costs money, which drivers usually pay to their dealers at up to 8 euros per tire. The dealers use the fees to finance their disposal-related processes and their disposal costs.
In this case, fraudulent disposal companies probably offered to take the tires away for a minimal fee. If the fraudsters offered to dispose of the tires at the dealers for 1 euro, that would be a whopping 25.000 euros in profit for the large quantity. The city or the landlord will most likely be left with the real disposal costs.
The ZARE initiative of the Federal Association of Tire and Vulcanization Craftsmen warns strongly against cheap disposal offers, which often have to be paid for twice. High-quality recycling has its price and is the basis for sustainable use of resources. This is why drivers and tire dealers are called upon to dispose of old tires exclusively through certified disposal companies.
About the ZARE initiative
The ZARE initiative is an amalgamation of 18 companies organized in the Federal Association of Tire Trade and Vulcanizing Trades (BRV), 16 of which are certified waste management companies. The ZARE partners have set themselves the task of raising awareness of professional tire recycling in Germany. ZARE informs drivers about the environmentally friendly disposal of used tires. At 25 locations, the ZARE partners cover almost all of Germany and the Netherlands.
The partners of the initiative are:
Allgemeine Gummiwertstoff und Reifenhandels GmbH, Bender Reifen Recycling GmbH, CVS Reifen GmbH, Danninger OHG Spezialtransporte, G & K Recycling Utsch GmbH, Hartung Speditions-, Handels- und Transport GmbH, HRV GmbH, KARGRO BV, KRAIBURG Austria GmbH & Co. KG, KURZ Karkassenhandel GmbH, Mondo Reifenmarkt GmbH, MRH Mülsener Rohstoff- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH, NZ-Entsorgung eK, Reifen DRAWS GmbH, Reifen Külshammer, Reifengruppe Ruhr, REIFEN OKA – Reifenhandel, TireTech GmbH
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Press release as Word document
Picture: Old tires
Caption: Illegal disposal of old tires always comes at the expense of the environment and society.
Source: ZARE initiative
