Disposal and recycling of car tires and tires. Where to put old tires? Reception of old tires. Plant for processing car tires. How to avoid pitfalls

Is it worth getting involved in such an unusual business as tire recycling? Rubber decomposes in 50-100 years. This is not the most impressive period when compared with the period of “natural” recycling of various types of plastics. Few businessmen are able to see prospects for further use in waste. But every year, tons of free resources literally disappear in city landfills and landfills.

A striking example of a promising business will be the recycling of old tires. This niche remains poorly developed so far, and the competition in it is very weak. According to statistics, domestic factories annually process only a quarter of the volume of used tires, which during the same period manage to end up in landfills. ceased to be part of jokes and turned into a profitable business.

Tire recycling is the future

To start your own business, an entrepreneur will need space and equipment for tire recycling. The price of the issue is measured in millions. You won't be able to get by with a couple hundred thousand. The profitability of a business depends entirely on how you organize it. Before you begin, you need to carefully study the raw materials with which you will have to work.

What are tires made of? To describe the design of a tire in a simplified way, it consists of a rubber contact layer on a metal annular cord grid. Rubber compound is made from rubber. Wherever technical progress has gone, rubber manufacturing technology and its basis have not changed since the creation of the first tires.

Rubber goes through a vulcanization procedure using an auxiliary substance - sulfur and vulcanization activators, which allow you to control this process. Different tire manufacturers add a specific set of fillers. Actually, the concentration of components and the “recipe” for preparing rubber differ between companies. By experimenting, each manufacturer strives to create a unique rubber mass, the characteristics of which will be better than those of competitors.

The first place among fillers belongs to the carbon additive. It is carbon that gives the material its jet-black color. To obtain the “roughness” of tires, silicon dioxide is added to increase adhesion (adhesion of the tire to the surface). Next on the list of additives are resins, oils and environmental components. The latter began to be added to the rubber mass relatively recently. It may surprise you, but your tires may even contain cornstarch. Old tires are recycled in two ways:

• Grind into crumbs.
• Decomposed into components by pyrolysis (thermal decomposition).

The methods differ in the processing technology, equipment used, the size of the initial capital and sales markets. Let's look at the features of both options

Tire recycling: pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the decomposition of inorganic and organic compounds under the influence of high temperatures. To process tires, special pyrolysis plants are needed that heat the raw materials to the required temperatures. During the decomposition process from rubber, the following is obtained:

• Carbon black. It is used as a filler in the production of dyes, rubber-based products (moisture-proof caps, seals, shock absorbers) and bitumen mastics.
• Synthetic fuel (liquid) used in heating boilers. Subsequently, it can be further purified to produce gasoline, fuel oil, and diesel fuel.
• Gas. It is used for re-combustion in pyrolysis plants.

Pyrolysis processing of tires is considered virtually waste-free. During the decomposition process, only a small part of the components is lost.

Recycling tires into crumbs

Tires are made from high quality rubber. If you chop a tire into pieces, each of them will retain the characteristics of the original material: wear resistance, strength, insensitivity to chemicals, elasticity. During the recycling process, tires are crushed into pieces of different fractions. They are further used:

• For the production of special Many have seen such a coating in modern stadiums and gyms: springy, wear-resistant, reliable and noticeably softening impacts.
• In the production of car accessories (rubber mats, bumpers).
• In the footwear industry for the manufacture of rubber boots and soles.
• In road construction: for the production of speed bumps and special wear-resistant road surfaces.
• In the production of linings for sleepers on railway tracks.
• As a filler for various sports equipment.

To this impressive list you can also add textile cord (hard fibers). During the pyrolysis process, they are irretrievably burned, and when the tires are crushed into crumbs, the cord is screened out. In the future, it is used as insulation and filler (mats, mattresses).

The metal component is also separated from the tire and can be reused as a raw material for remelting and as a reinforcing component in concrete mixtures. There are three ways to shred tires:

• Using special crushers.
• Mechanical grinding in a confined space.
• Cryogenic grinding using liquid nitrogen.

The last method differs from the previous two in its highest efficiency, but this cutting-edge technology will require very expensive equipment. This will significantly increase the size of the initial capital (up to 30,000,000-40,000,000 rubles), so the option is not suitable for modest businessmen who are starting a small business from scratch. It can be considered when expanding a business, when the profitability of the enterprise will break all conceivable and unimaginable records.

Crushers and mills are the most affordable option. The average cost of equipment will be 4,000,000-7,000,000 rubles. The space requirements for placing equipment are also very modest: only 300-400 sq.m. The option is ideal for small businesses.

Disadvantages and advantages of recycling

The tire recycling business is one of those rare times when you can make the world a better place while making money. We already mentioned the timing of natural decomposition of rubber at the beginning of the article. When tires wear out, they release toxic substances into the air that are extremely harmful to humans. In landfills, during the process of decomposition, they pollute the soil and the planet as a whole, and all the same harmful substances are washed away by groundwater, which distributes them over vast territories.

A burning tower made of old tires is a different story. Soot, sulfurous acid and highly toxic components are quickly carried away by the wind. By recycling old tires, you will contribute to improving the environmental situation in the country. In addition to this bonus for nobility, the entrepreneur will be able to receive a number of other advantages:

• An inexhaustible (continuously replenished) source of raw materials.
• Wide choice of industrial enterprises as a market.
• Ease of production. You will not need highly qualified personnel. It is enough to train the employee to properly handle the equipment involved in processing.

The most active entrepreneurs sometimes receive support for their endeavors from the state. The modest list of shortcomings consists of only two points:

• Large initial capital. Investments in even the most modest enterprise will have six zeros in the tail.
• Difficulty finding a market.

The last point requires some clarification. There are indeed a lot of enterprises that use products obtained from tire recycling. The difficulty is that only a few will make contact with a “private owner”.

Tire recycling plant: looking for sources of raw materials

A mini tire processing plant will become a promising investment only if the equipment is loaded with raw materials regularly. A continuous supply of used tires is the key to a successful business. Of course, no entrepreneur will organize raids to raid landfills in search of worn out tires. You will have to negotiate with suppliers:

• Car services (especially tire shops). These companies are engaged in replacing old tires with new ones, so they always have an abundance of raw materials.
• Management of landfills and landfills. For a nominal fee, these comrades will be happy to rid the supervised facilities of excess garbage.
• Car parks. Each such enterprise has its own team of workers who repair vehicles. As a rule, this team is led by a certain Mikhalych or Vasilich, with whom the aspiring businessman will have to contact.

Even the most modest enterprise can process up to 200-500 kg of rubber in an hour. A minimum of 2-4 tons of raw materials will be required per day (8-hour working day). You can collect old tires from the population, incentivizing them with symbolic payments. It is enough to organize several collection points in different areas of the city. According to current legislation, legal entities are required to pay for waste disposal, so you can negotiate with them by offering a lower price. A certain amount will have to be spent as payment for transporting tires to the recycling site.

Implementation issue

Let's face it, retail is not suitable for this business. The entrepreneur will have to look for wholesale buyers. The implementation process is also complicated by the specificity of the components that are obtained as a result of processing. Sending commercial offers to enterprises, participating in specialized exhibitions, and personal negotiations will help you reach buyers.

It is extremely important to immediately discuss with customers the volumes of products they will require. For many customers, it is enough to contact you once a year. Of course, the products of a tire processing plant are not perishable, but the lack of sales markets will significantly slow down your business. Additionally, you will still have to look for warehouses to store it.

Conclusion

The number of cars is growing steadily every year. In our country, a car is a symbol of prosperity, even if it is taken on credit. Along with the number of cars, the volume of waste “shoes” that have nowhere to go is growing. The savvy Russian people have learned to use tires as decorative fences and flower beds. Some even practice on them in the technique of artistic carving of figures for children's playgrounds. Begin

There are more than 1.1 billion passenger cars in the world. The number of registered cars in Russia is about 46 million. This means that if we add trucks, then there are about 5 billion tires running on the roads of the world. The number of tires in landfills around the world is unknown. In Russia, according to various estimates, from 30 to 45 million tires are thrown away per year. There is no need to talk about the harm that such waste causes to the environment.

The issue of recycling and disposal of car tires is acute throughout the world.

There is not a single country in which this problem is considered solved. In our country, according to various sources, from 8 to 12% of old tires and conveyor belts are recycled. These figures indicate that tire recycling as a business has good prospects.

However, having decided to run a rubber processing business, you must carefully choose the processing method and imagine all the pitfalls of such a business. Choosing a processing method, and therefore the direction of your investment, is a very complex task. Enterprises that produce equipment for one or another processing method naturally praise their method and carefully hide its shortcomings. In this article we will try to make the task of choosing a processing method easier. Remember that there is no perfect method. Everyone has flaws. Here are the main ways to recycle car tires:

• reuse by applying a new tread (in this case, after reuse, the tire still needs to be recycled);
• combustion to produce thermal energy;
• heating without air access or with limited air access (pyrolysis);
• grinding to produce crumb rubber, recycled metal and textile threads;
• burial and use for strengthening the coastline, installing fences, etc. This method is prohibited in most countries, including Russia. We will not consider it.

We do not consider in this article applying new tread to worn tires (“welding”). This is a method of extending the life of tires rather than recycling them. But let's look at other methods in more detail. When evaluating recycling options, you should have a basic knowledge of the tire material composition.

Tire material composition

The main components of tires are cord (metal, textile or mixed), rubber, filler (soot), auxiliary materials (thermal stabilizers, anti-ozonators, etc.), adhesives (contain polychlorinated hydrocarbons and some other materials in small quantities. If we do not consider metal cord (which is a steel wire coated with brass - an alloy of copper and zinc), then the composition of the tires includes: hydrocarbons (rubber, etc.), carbon (soot), silicon dioxide, sulfur (vulcanizing agent in rubber and other components), polychlorides (in adhesives) and some other components in small quantities. Contrary to popular belief about the presence of arsenic in tires, it is not there. Heavy metals are also absent (except for a small amount of copper and zinc on the surface of the steel cord). Lead is also not used in modern tires. All these components undergo changes during tire processing and form new substances, many of which are more dangerous than the original ones. Now let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of various tire recycling methods.

Burning tires to produce thermal energy

The method seems attractive. Therefore, it is worth talking about it in more detail.

Burning one ton of tires produces approximately the same amount of thermal energy as one ton of thermal coal.

What is the problem? Firstly, tires cannot be burned in conventional thermal power plants. You need special equipment and preparation of raw materials. Secondly, when sulfur is burned, it produces large amounts of sulfur dioxide (sulfur dioxide). This requires a special cleaning installation. The problem is being solved, but the equipment is very expensive. Thirdly, polychlorides at insufficient combustion temperatures form one of the most dangerous substances - dioxin. Available international experience indicates that this method has the right to life only when processing very large quantities (more than 100 tons) per day, requires huge capital investments and is profitable only in the case of subsidies (financial support) from the state.

Read also: Production of skimmed milk powder

Tire pyrolysis

The process involves heating the material to 400–500 degrees without access to oxygen (air). This produces pyrolysis gas, a liquid hydrocarbon fraction, soot and steel cord waste. You can find excellent product costing. For example, from 1 ton of tires you can get 500 kg of liquid hydrocarbon fraction (fuel and even gasoline!), 200 kg of gas (used to heat the reactor and save fuel), 200 kg of carbon black and 100 kg of metal. What's the problem? Ask yourself a question: where does sulfur disappear if it contains up to 10% silicon dioxide? Very simple. Most of the sulfur turns into hydrogen sulfide (the strongest poison, a substance of hazard class 1), which is contained in pyrolysis gases. The other part of the sulfur forms carbon disulfide and other compounds, which go into the liquid fraction. And finally, the residue, which is bashfully called carbon black, contains metal sulfides (mainly sodium and calcium). Where did the silicon dioxide disappear - into the residue. The fate of polychlorides is even more complex. Some of them go into the residue, some form hydrogen chloride (not a gift!), and some form dioxins, which can be found in all products. This “carbon black” will not be used by any responsible consumer. You can't bury it either. By recycling tires in this way, we will create a bunch of new problems. These problems can be solved, but require large capital investments, which calls into question the profitability of this method without government assistance.

Grinding tires to obtain rubber crumbs

The essence of the method is very simple. Tires are shredded. In this case, three products are formed - metal, crumb rubber (we will consider the directions of its use below) and textile cord waste.

With such processing, virtually no chemical changes occur (no new toxic waste is generated).

This is the main advantage of the method. What are the problems? It is very difficult to separate textile threads from crumb rubber and the textile material thus obtained is practically a new waste. We will further show how this problem can be solved. But at the initial stages it is better to start processing purely steel-cord tires. This will significantly reduce capital costs. The key problems when constructing a mini-tire recycling plant are the following problems.

1. Choosing a location for production. Construction or use of existing structures.
2. Selection, purchase and installation of equipment.
3. Obtaining a processing license.
4. Formation of reliable channels for obtaining raw materials and marketing finished products.

Let's look at everything in order.

Production site and buildings

Even a mini-tire recycling plant requires a fairly large site. Most of the production site will be occupied by a warehouse for raw materials (tires) and finished products. The tire recycling line occupies a fairly large area - 150–300 m2. It is better to clarify this after choosing the equipment. The height of the building (or hangar) is 5–6 meters. The production site must be sufficiently remote from residential buildings. Minimum distance 200-500 m. The best place is an industrial zone. When recycling tires, the material heats up quite strongly and releases volatile substances with a specific odor. Local ventilation is required. It is necessary to provide special absorption cartridges as part of the ventilation equipment. They are produced industrially.

Equipment for processing tires into crumbs

For processing tires into crumbs, the price of equipment is not prohibitive. However, the cost of a set of equipment of 10–15 million rubles should be considered minimal. The choice of equipment for processing tires into crumbs is quite wide. There are Russian-made and imported lines. When choosing equipment, don’t pay too much attention to brands.

Tire recycling line

If possible, visit an existing production facility and listen to all about the problems of this production. When purchasing equipment, it is better to focus on complete lines, but some components can be used or purchased separately. Here is the minimum list of equipment:

• shredders (shredder, hydraulic shears, tape cutter);
• separators (air and magnetic);
• conveyors;
• vibrating screens

The number of used tires is growing at a tremendous pace. Mountains of bald tires near tire service stations create a lot of inconvenience, take up space and pollute the environment. What to do with them? But you can make money on them. Tire recycling: we will tell you how to do it and get maximum income. Not only in our country the problem of their processing has not yet been completely resolved. According to statistics, only a fifth of tires in the world are recycled. In most countries, the state allocates subsidies for such processing.

Methods have now been developed to effectively recycle tires. If run correctly, a tire recycling business will help you recoup your investment within six months. At the same time, you will also help improve the environmental performance of the region.

Tire recycling can be a lucrative business. The tire is a source of valuable polymers. From a ton of waste tires you can get 700 kg of rubber. It is used to produce fuel, building materials, and rubber products. But burning tires is extremely harmful to the environment and all living things. This releases 450 dangerous toxic gases and 270 kg of soot.

Recycling tires makes it possible to obtain valuable recyclable materials– crumb rubber, steel cord and liquid fuel. Crumb rubber is used in many industries: oil, chemical, mechanical engineering, and in everyday life. Rubber is used to make hydro- and heat-insulating coatings. It is used for the production of road surfaces, sleepers and rail pads. A rubber modifier is often added to asphalt. It doubles its service life. Rubber also includes hoses, shoe soles, etc.

In large plants, it is difficult to obtain significant economic benefits from tire recycling. Tire recycling is a small business idea. It is enough to acquire a mini-factory for their processing.

By the way, a draft law is currently in the State Duma, according to which the manufacturer will be responsible for recycling tires. So rubber recycling can be controlled by the state.

Step one. You need to get a license. It is mandatory if the business is based on waste recycling. Tires are considered one of the least hazardous wastes, so obtaining a license should not be too difficult. But there can still be small ones.

Step two. We need to rent space for a mini-processing plant. It is better to give preference to a place outside the city. It is better to place such an object away from the populated area. The advantage of such a place is that renting it will be much cheaper than within the city. The average rent for such an object will cost 50 thousand rubles.

Step three. To deliver raw materials and remove finished products, you will need a small truck.

Step four. Equipment. You will need to buy or lease a mini tire processing plant. This is a small collapsible complex. Its area is about 17 square meters. m. It will be able to process 5 tons per day.

When planning a mini-factory, you need to allocate areas for:

• tire storage;
• slicing;
• product warehouse.

The plant itself is installed quite quickly - in a couple of weeks.

Step five. Staff. The plant can operate in two shifts. Each will require two people. Plus, we need staff for the removal of products and delivery of tires (a couple of people), as well as an accountant.

Recycling

Rubber recycling allows you to extract rubber from waste tires. This can be done in several ways:

1. Chemical. The most toxic and harmful to the environment.
2. Mechanical. Tires are crushed and exposed to high temperatures.

It is the second option that is now used in tire recycling. It is very popular, but more expensive. Please note that recycling tires also produces metal waste. During processing, metal cords are separated from synthetic ones.

Now the number of vehicles is constantly growing. The amount of waste, including tires, is also increasing. There are still not enough enterprises for their processing in our country. If recycling is properly organized, recycling car tires can bring enormous income.

To make tire recycling profitable, you need to think through everything. Let's take a closer look at the organization of this business. You will need vehicles, because old tires will need to be collected and brought to the warehouse. There the metal parts are removed, and the rubber goes to cutting. Tires need to be cut into small pieces. For this purpose, the mini-factory has powerful scissors. The crushed tires are poured into the hopper of the factory reactor.

At high temperatures, the tires in the reactor decompose. Recycling car tires allows you to obtain a number of products at once:

1. liquid fuel;
2. residue containing carbon;
3. metal.

To support tire recycling, some of the gas is returned to the reactor. The rest of the gas enters a special pipe. In terms of volume, its quantity can be compared to the exhaust of a truck. The carbon residue is sifted to separate the steel cord.

After processing you will have a carbon residue, liquid fuel and steel cord. Rubber crumbs are purchased by many enterprises that manufacture rubber products. She is always in demand. Steel cord and liquid fuel are also in demand.

The peculiarity of tires is also their weight. Each one is quite heavy. Such large-scale waste becomes a good source of polymers. There are many of them even in small towns, so recycling of car tires will always be a popular service. The main thing is to establish the process itself and obtain all permissions.

And recycling car tires will save the environment from pollution, because tires naturally take hundreds of years to decompose.

Equipment

Recycling of rubber tires is possible in a small plant. You will need to select your equipment. An average plant can process 5 tons in 24 hours. Recycling rubber tires per day will bring about:

• 2 tons of liquid fuel;
• 0.5 tons of steel cord;
• 1.5 tons of solid residue with carbon;
• 1st ton of gas.

As you can see, recycling tires is very cost-effective. These are quite high performance indicators.

The peculiarity of this installation is that it works without interruption. It is cyclically supplied with gas released during tire processing. It must be installed in an open area.

The installation can be operated by only two people per shift. It consumes about 14.5 kW/h.

Start-up capital

An average installation costs about 1 million rubles. Shipping costs are not included here. Disposal of used tires is associated with the accumulation of fuel oil. You will need to buy tanks for it. Fuel prices change, so it is better to store fuel when they fall. We recommend selling it when prices rise. This will increase your profit.

Tanks can be purchased used. The average price for them is 20-26 thousand rubles/piece. Six or seven tanks will be enough.

You will also need warehouse equipment, overalls, and various tools. This is approximately another 100 thousand rubles. Don’t forget about rental, delivery, installation of equipment, paperwork. In general, expenses can amount to 1.5 million rubles.

Expenses

Work two shifts, 2 people each. This is a salary for four people. (10 thousand/month). Need an office for accounting. A couple of workers will be needed to supply tires and market the products. This is about 70 thousand rubles. per month for taxes, salaries and office rent.

Electricity per month approximately 10440 kW will be consumed. In total, the operation of such a mini-factory will require about 100 thousand per month.

Income

The advantage of this project is that the raw materials will be practically free. Sometimes you can make money even while collecting it. Large enterprises pay for the disposal of old tires, because landfills do not take them. In this case, an agreement is concluded with the company, and it pays monthly for the removal of tires. The cost of removal is about 2-3 thousand. rub.

Scrap metal can be handed in for recycling for 4 thousand rubles. per ton. A ton of carbon is accepted at 3-4 thousand rubles. All kinds of coatings are made from it.

Bottom line

According to average estimates, the total monthly income can be 370-380 thousand rubles. (fuel oil + carbon + scrap metal). Costs every month - 114,600 rubles. (salary + office rent + electricity). The payback will be about six months from the launch of the mini-plant.

Difficulties

1. There are not many vacant plots in big cities. There are many residential buildings around.
2. The distance from the mini-factory to houses should not be less than 300 m.
3. It will be difficult to pass the examination.
4. Difficulties may arise with residents of nearby neighborhoods. Many people don't want to live near a tire recycling plant.

It is better to organize such processing at a ready-made enterprise. The main thing is to find a suitable site that is inactive. But this territory already has all the approvals and permits. Try to come to an agreement with the company itself on mutually beneficial terms.

Most likely, a cleaning installation will also be required. It will prevent pollution of nature.

Another difficulty is unforeseen expenses. They may appear already during the processing process. Most likely, there will be difficulties with firefighters and environmentalists. If tanks for fuel oil are installed, it will be necessary to install a fire shield, conduct personnel training, post safety instructions, etc. Such objects always attract the attention of fire inspectors.

Prospects

How profitable is this business? It can bring good income. In a small town, at least one and a half tons of waste tires accumulate per year. There will definitely not be a shortage of tires. Having processed this amount of waste, you will get about 50 tons of fuel oil. The big advantage of such a business is that you do not need to spend money on purchasing raw materials.

It is also important to install special filters so as not to pollute the environment. Pay the fee on time to protect the environment. Then environmentalists will have no reason to find fault with you.

Food for thought

In order for tire recycling to develop, it is important that the state supports this industry. Government subsidies for such processing are practiced in many developed countries. It is important that a law is passed that increases producer responsibility. It would also be a good idea to create collection points for used tires. It would be logical if they were based in tire workshops.

Tire recycling as a business can bring good income, but you will need to spend a lot of effort, time and money. This service will always be in demand, as the number of tires is only growing.

The tire is a source of valuable polymers.

There are not many ways to dispose of used tires. However, you can't just throw them away. Firstly, it is very unecological. After all, rubber, when decomposed, becomes a rather toxic substance that can poison everything around. Secondly, it's impractical. For the most part, you can return old tires for a fee.

How to dispose of used tires

There are also chemical methods for recycling tires. In this case, they are in most cases burned together with special chemicals in special furnaces.

It is not recommended to burn tires just like that, because... They are very toxic and, when burned, release harmful carcinogens into the atmosphere. In addition, putting out a burning tire is quite problematic.

What are recycled tires useful for?

Powders obtained from recycled tires are actively used in various industries. For example, they are used to make rubber plates for tram and railway crossings. Such slabs are characterized by high strength and stability, as well as reduced noise levels.

Larger particles are used as a sorbent, which is used to collect oil from the surface of the water.

Alternative disposal methods

It is best to take your old tires to special collection points. And then the specialists of such points themselves will hand over your tires for recycling. If the tires are old, you won’t be able to sell them for a reward. But you can get rid of the problem of recycling waste material.

Where to return tires is one of the frequently asked questions. In Moscow, for example, this can be done in almost any tire shop.

Each of us knows that a vehicle cannot do without tires. However, not everyone thinks about where worn-out tires go. There are two ways: either the tire is sent to a landfill and thereby pollutes the environment, or it is recycled. It is safe to say that rubber is a dangerous pollutant, which is why they always try to recycle it. For this simple reason, there are all the prerequisites for creating your own small plant, where tire processing will be carried out.

What everyone should know

Every year the number of cars on the roads increases by about 5-10%. Based on this, the volume of worn rubber increases by approximately 1 million tons. In many countries, the issue of recycling is very acute. This problem can be partly solved by setting up your own small production. You have several options for business development. For example, this could be the processing of car tires into fuel oil or crumbs. If you want to receive fuel, you will have to spend a little more money, since the production line is quite serious. Please also note that you can work not only with tires, but also with plastic products, which will slightly increase the profitability of the enterprise. This business has several undeniable advantages, now we will look at each of them.

Firstly, you do not need to invest a lot of money in purchasing raw materials. This is due to the fact that worn tires are thrown away. Local authorities, if, of course, they are concerned about the ecology of their city, will deliver everything to you themselves. But that’s not all, since the municipality is ready to pay for your company to process car tires. Agree, getting practically free raw materials, and even making a profit from doing this business, is not at all bad. Of course, it doesn’t end there, since our main goal is not only to save the environment, but also to make a net profit. The main funds will come from the sale of the same fuel oil, which is an extremely popular type of fuel in agriculture. By the way, you can also get free raw materials at tire service points, which are more than abundant in big cities. The thing is that service station employees, etc., pay additional money for the removal of old tires and their disposal.

Recycling rubber tires: pros and cons

It is impossible not to say a few words about the fact that this niche has not yet been fully filled. The number of entrepreneurs in this area is relatively small, approximately 20% of the optimal figure. This means that only a fifth of worn-out rubber is disposed of and recycled, the rest is sent to a landfill. You must understand that 1,000 kilograms of burned tires means 450 kg of various toxic gases, as well as 250-270 kilograms of soot. But if the same amount of rubber is properly disposed of, then about 700 kilograms of full rubber can be obtained from the waste, which can be used to make fuel and rubber products. Here it hardly makes sense to talk about the industrial scale of the enterprise, but it is very possible to set up a small tire processing plant.

The complex itself is relatively small, but its size directly depends on production volumes. So, to process 5 tons per day, you need a room of 18 square meters and 10 meters in height. There should be a warehouse on the site where you will store tires, plastic, etc. There must be an area for preliminary preparation of raw materials (cleaning, cutting rubber). You can’t do without a storage room for finished products. In this case, it all depends on what exactly you are getting. It could be fuel and so on. For example, for fuel oil you will need to purchase several large-capacity tanks. They don’t have to be new; it’s even better to buy used ones, it’s much cheaper. Please note that recycling rubber tires is difficult and dangerous. Therefore, technology must be carefully followed. Let's talk more about this.

Technological process

In essence, there is nothing complicated here, but it is necessary to control the process at all stages of production. At the very beginning you have to start collecting tires. Next, you must take them to your company’s warehouse for further processing. In order not to damage the scissors, which, by the way, are not cheap, it is necessary to inspect all raw materials for the presence of metal objects, such as disks or rings. As for the cutting tool, ideally it should be hydraulic scissors, but this is not at all necessary, we will talk about this a little later. Next, the crushed rubber is sent to the reactor - a special installation for processing tires, which operates at a given temperature, most often 450 degrees Celsius. Decomposition leads to the fact that we obtain several semi-finished products, for example gas, steel cord, and fuel fraction.

The same gas is used to support combustion in the furnace as a by-product fuel. Its waste is released into the environment. This cannot be called a good solution, but the emissions resemble exhaust gases from a truck. As for the remaining mass, it passes through a magnetic separator; in simple words, it is sifted through a sieve. Metal elements are screened out and sent to the warehouse. Fuel oil is transported by conveyor to tanks, in which the fuel will be stored until dispatch. It should be noted that the tire processing plant, which produces pyrolysis fuel, is quite expensive - approximately 2 million rubles. Its productivity is about 5 thousand tons of raw materials per day, which is quite a lot.

Making crumb rubber

Here is another rather interesting idea that has not received proper distribution to date. The essence of such a business is that you will sell crushed and processed rubber, which can be used for various purposes. In order for you to roughly understand what we are talking about, it is necessary to provide general indicators in numbers. Thus, a ton of crumb rubber on the Russian market will cost no more than 20,000 rubles. As for the main consumers, these are construction companies, manufacturers of rubber products, roofing materials, coatings for construction and sports tools, etc. In principle, it is quite easy to find a sales point.

It is also necessary to take into account the fact that approximately 700-800 thousand tons of worn tires are thrown away every year on the territory of the Russian Federation. Approximately 20-25% is disposed of properly, the rest either just lies in landfills or is burned. So, processing tires into crumbs can bring in 5-8 billion, but this is already on an industrial scale. If you will be engaged in this kind of recycling at your plant, then you will need a mechanical crusher. will have to be changed very often, which leads to high costs. Another disadvantage of this idea is that a lot of electricity is consumed, approximately 500 kilowatts per ton of finished product. Nevertheless, recycling tires in this way will be profitable. But only if you receive appropriate support from the state.

Tire recycling equipment

Separately, we need to talk about what our production line will consist of. In principle, there is not much equipment, and it is not complicated at all. However, the price is steep. The main unit is a tire processing unit (reactor), 10 meters high, 3.5 meters wide, 5 m long. This unit must be installed only in an open area, that is, in the open air. You, as a future entrepreneur, must understand that you will have to pay quite a lot of money for electricity. The reactor itself consumes about 6 kW per hour. In addition, there are also scissors - 7-8 kW/h. In principle, this is practically all the equipment that is needed to start production. What else is needed is several crucibles for unloading the resulting material.

As noted above, the reactor has a capacity of about 5 tons per day. But of this mass, approximately 40% will be liquid fuel. The fact is that as a result of decomposition you will get gas (about a ton) and about 0.5 tons of steel cord. We must not forget about the solid residue (carbon-containing materials), this is approximately 30% of the total output. It is worth drawing your attention to the fact that the processing of old tires in the reactor is carried out in a continuous mode. All you have to do is add tires. Combustion is supported by gas produced inside the firebox. The reactor must be maintained by two specially trained specialists. In principle, training courses can be completed fairly quickly. Now let's move on and look at a few more important points.

How much money do you need to start?

This is one of the main aspects that interests absolutely all beginners. There is no need to spend a lot of money here. If you are going to purchase used equipment (reactor, scissors), you can save up to 20% of the total amount. Whether to take such a step or not is up to you to decide. There is no guarantee that a used reactor will not fail after the first melting. In this case, no one will compensate you for the damage. One million rubles should be enough for you to do everything. This includes the cost of a reactor with a capacity of 5 tons/day, as well as scissors. In addition, you will need to purchase several tanks (60 tons). If these are used containers, then you will have to pay about 25,000 rubles per unit. Decide for yourself how many pieces you need, but you don’t need to limit yourself to one or two tanks. The fact is that processing tires into fuel is a seasonal business.

During a period of decline in fuel prices, it is better not to sell it, but only to accumulate it. When the period of increase comes, and this will definitely happen, you can get a good income by selling all the fuel oil at once. This tactic works and is considered quite effective. But this does not mean that you should completely freeze sales; it is enough to reduce them by 50-75%. You still need to pay your employees. Four specialists will cost approximately 60,000 rubles per month, and tools and workwear will cost another 50 thousand. There are also regular monthly costs: electricity, taxes, rent, etc.

About enterprise income

As you may have noticed, the technology for recycling tires is quite simple. There are no fuel additives, complex chemical reactions or other issues. Moreover, as noted above, the raw materials are completely free. Sometimes you can even earn some money by collecting tires, which will cover your monthly electricity costs. If you live in the outback, then you are unlikely to be paid for recycling, but in big cities the situation is completely different. There are many industrial enterprises that pay good money for recycling rubber. This is due to the fact that many city landfills refuse to accept such waste. For recycling a ton of tires you can get a different amount, from 2 to 5 thousand rubles.

It is safe to say that even recycling tires at home will bring good income. Thus, for a ton of low-quality carbon, consumers are willing to pay 3 thousand rubles. Scrap metal is accepted at the rate of 4 thousand rubles per ton, and fuel oil - 3-4 thousand rubles per ton, depending on the period. By simple calculations, you can come to the conclusion that in a month you will earn approximately 350,000-400,000 rubles. Approximately 50% must be paid for electricity, paid to workers, etc. With such intensity, the tire recycling line will pay for itself within six months, which is quite fast. As you can see, the idea is very interesting and promising, but not everything is so simple. In such a business, as, in fact, in any other, there are a lot of pitfalls. Let's see how not to make mistakes.

Problems when starting a business

It happens that you simply cannot find a free plot of land. This is due to the fact that it is necessary to maintain a safe distance to residential buildings, which is 300 meters. The further the plant is from the city, the higher the cost of delivering raw materials, do not forget about this. Remember also that not everyone wants tires to be recycled outside their windows. Feedback from ordinary residents will be negative, even if the reactor is located 400 meters from residential areas. For this simple reason, look for a location on a production site. Chances are you'll find one, as quite a few of the sites are empty. All you need to do is negotiate directly with the company; as a rule, this is not so difficult to do. At least, it’s much easier than concluding an agreement with firefighters and the sanitary and epidemiological station.

Do not forget that you need a license. It is not difficult to obtain a permit, since tires are classified as non-hazardous materials (group 4). But the catch is that your production officially pollutes the atmosphere. Most likely, you will be asked (forcibly) to buy a treatment plant. Its price is usually several times higher than the entire plant. But there are several ways that will help you postpone the purchase for a certain time. Experts say that it is not advisable to open a plant for processing any one material. Whether this is true or not, decide for yourself. In any case, you can always expand your workshop and melt glass, plastic or metal there. According to statistics, 75% of entrepreneurs encounter environmentalists who are wary of this type of production.

A few important details

As noted a little above, you will encounter a “contingency” clause in your business plan. This is due to the fact that it will be necessary to resolve issues with environmentalists and firefighters. For example, to store fuel oil in new tanks, only a protective shield is needed, but used tanks require additional protection. There are special lines for fuel and gas, fire safety instructions for personnel, and much more. In any case, you need to have a reserve in your budget of several hundred thousand rubles. This will save you a lot of trouble. The expense items are quite large, but we have already covered them, and you probably know what you will be dealing with.

Don't forget that you, as a manager, must not only monitor how your employees work, but also perform a number of other equally important tasks. Among these: constant development and growth of the boundaries of the enterprise, accounting and tax accounting, as well as adjustment of goals and plans for the near future. This article did not mention one important point - advertising your product. There are several options here. One of them is to create your own thematic website where you can offer fuel oil, etc. No one has canceled the advertisements on poles, stops and stands. Until now, this is a good and effective method to loudly declare oneself. In addition, for a nominal fee you can rent a billboard and place your advertisement there. By the way, you need to do this wisely. It is important not to overload with unnecessary information, but also to attract the attention of a potential audience.

Conclusion

So we talked to you about what tire recycling is and how to open such a business. As you can see, everything is quite simple, but there are a lot of important points. Sometimes it happens that it is difficult to find a supplier, or the latter refuses to just give away old tires and demands money for them. In principle, you can find another, more acceptable enterprise, where they will be happy to get rid of excess garbage, and they will even give you money for the trip. Sometimes it makes sense to enter into a full-fledged long-term supply agreement. This way you can eliminate downtime in your business and increase your income. But all these points must be discussed directly with the supplier. Remember that it is much more difficult to find a point of sale for tires than to find a businessman who is ready to buy this garbage. This is due to the fact that in some cities there are no tire recycling reactors at all.

If you get good fuel oil, then aim for city or private boiler houses. There you will be happy to purchase fuel, which is vital for heating water. If you are going to get crumb rubber, then you will need a machine that costs about 500,000 rubles. Electricity consumption per 1 ton of product is 90 kW. The disadvantage of this approach is that a group of knives (40 pieces) wears out after processing hundreds of tires, so they often need to be replaced. In principle, you only need to pay 30 rubles for one knife, which is relatively little. Thus, a unit with a productivity of 20 tires per hour pays for itself in about six months. The results are the same as in the production of fuel oil. But in the first case, there are fewer problems with environmentalists and firefighters, since we are not dealing with either waste into the atmosphere or liquid fuel. Well, that’s basically all on this topic. The most difficult thing is to start, and then it will be much easier.