Used tires are also raw materials
Car tires dumped on the side of roads, in forest belts, on the riverbank – a picture familiar to many. It is undesirable to collect them in a common garbage container – harmful substances are released when ignited. But it is also wrong to leave it in open storage, at least because of the same sudden fire. And in general, they only pollute nature.
A new company, LLC YERODALS (a joint project of a foreign investor and our state), took on the issue of used tires, where, following the example of European countries, worn–out tires are recycled and the resulting products are used for a second time.
«Used tires are a specific waste that cannot be fully returned to the original product, to a new tire. But they have their own way of returning to the economic system – through collection and disposal. And first of all, we solve the environmental problem. We care what the surrounding landscape will look like,” says Pavel Tsyganash, Director of YERODALS.
The company was registered in September 2020 and in August of this year it launched a trial processing in a test mode. Prior to that, the territory was equipped – production workshops were brought into line with the rules and regulations, electrical networks and other communications were laid, and the necessary equipment was installed. The plans are to purchase the missing special equipment.
The site in front of the production building is filled with tires, of all kinds – from passenger cars, trucks and agricultural machinery. “Now we have about 40 tons of tires, which were collected in the republic within 4 months. These are works for 1-1.5 months. Our capacities allow processing up to 300 kg of raw materials per hour. We need tires. And in this part, the state service for environmental control and environmental protection helps, which develops a document regulating the procedure for the turnover of waste in this category, informing legal entities and individuals about the delivery of scrap tires to a specialized enterprise for recycling. We are also considering the possibility of importing the material,” Pavel Tsyganash noted.
The head of the enterprise described the entire technological process, which involves 16 people (from collecting worn tires to packaging finished products). Tires cleaned of dirt are placed on a device with which a metal side ring (wire) is pulled out. Then the tire is cut into several parts, fed along a conveyor belt to the first shredder, where it is crushed into smaller portions. At the same time, the metal cord in the form of a fine wire is immediately separated. After that, they are crushed again, getting a fine crumb. For a more thorough selection of wire particles, three magnetic separators are installed. And on the vibrating table, three fractions of rubber crumbs are screened out and textiles are selected. As a result, three types of products are obtained from old tires: rubber chips of different sizes, metal and textile cord.
This project involves not only the recycling of car tires, but also the production of rubber injury-proof tiles. The first one is planned to be released before the end of this year. In addition, seamless coatings can be made from rubber chips. All the necessary components and special equipment (portable device) are brought to the site and immediately mount the site of the required shape and color.
Crumb rubber coatings are in increasing demand. Such modern practical zones are characterized by high wear resistance, do not depend on weather conditions, and retain their original appearance for a long time. And most importantly, now you will not have to buy the material abroad, it will be produced in our republic. Construction companies, including those from Moldova, are already showing interest in YERODALS products.
“Our project is based on two components: solving an environmental problem – recycling hazardous waste, preserving natural resources, and maintaining territories allocated for landfills. The second is the production of a product in demand on the market, suitable for use in various production areas,” Pavel Tsyganash, director of the processing enterprise, said at the end of the conversation.
Svetlana Osadchaya, Tiraspol.