Waste Tires: From Rubbish to Gold

In the corners of our cities, discarded scrap tires were once a vexing "black waste." The piles not only took up land but also threatened to catch fire due to the intense heat. But now, these once-waste items are undergoing a spectacular comeback, transformed into a valuable treasure through the magic of recycling.

When sophisticated dismantling equipment slices through the carcass of a commercial vehicle tire, you'll discover a treasure trove. Besides refining fuel oil with incredible combustion efficiency, it can also separate out extremely pure carbon black, leaving even the steel wire within the tire gleaming with a metallic sheen. This is especially true for brand-name commercial vehicle tires.

Because they're produced using superior materials and processes, the resulting "dismantled" products are of higher quality. Just as high-quality ingredients make for more delicious dishes, they also command higher prices.

In the past two years, the prices of various raw materials have skyrocketed, leaving tire factory owners often worried about their purchase orders. Unexpectedly, this has made products derived from the thermal cracking of scrap tires a highly sought-after commodity. Take carbon black, for example. Previously, it was primarily processed from petroleum, and its price rose with oil prices.

Now, recycled carbon black from used tires is over 30% cheaper than new ones, yet its quality remains comparable. Tire factories use it to make new tires, significantly reducing costs. Then there's the fuel oil from cracking, which burns similarly to regular diesel but is significantly cheaper. Steel mills and power plants are eager to use it, hauling truckloads of it to their factories.

Don't think these recycled products are limited to tire factories; their reach is vast. Steel mill workers particularly value the steel wire from used tires. After processing, this wire can be recycled back into the furnace, saving significantly more electricity than steelmaking from iron ore and producing exceptionally strong steel.

Plastic factories blend recycled carbon black with raw materials to create durable and affordable plastic water pipes. Even ocean-going cargo ships are starting to use fuel oil from cracked tires, saving hundreds of yuan per tank of fuel.

In the past, there were concerns about pollution when processing used tires. Things are different now. The new thermal cracking equipment is like a sophisticated "environmentally friendly factory." Once the tires enter, they undergo a "transformation" within a sealed reactor. The resulting exhaust gas is treated, reducing harmful substances by over 90% and becoming virtually odorless.

Even more impressively, the equipment converts the heat generated during the process into electricity, which can be sold to the power grid if not used. This is truly environmentally friendly and saves money. With these new technologies, recycling plants no longer have to worry about environmental inspections, and their business is much more stable.

Don't underestimate the business of recycling used tires; it's lucrative. A plant in southern China processes 100,000 tons of tires annually. The owner calculated that even with a low recycling price, they can still sell over 10 million yuan a year, generating a net profit of two to three million yuan. Now, even major tire companies like Linglong and Michelin are jumping on the bandwagon, establishing their own recycling outlets and cracking plants.

From producing new tires to recycling used tires into raw materials, this seamless process ensures a supply of raw materials and provides additional revenue. At this rate, in two years, this business nationwide could generate over 8 billion yuan annually. Including related industries, the scale could reach over 100 billion yuan.

The country is currently vigorously promoting environmental protection and a circular economy, and used tire recycling has arrived at a favorable time. Companies in this industry can enjoy tax breaks, and some local governments even provide subsidies.

Many regions have mandated that the utilization rate of used tires must reach over 95% by 2025, which means even more used tires will be collected and processed. With policy support, market demand, and technological advancements, the waste tire recycling industry has a long road ahead. Perhaps even the tires of cars on our roads will contain used tires.