Recycling in the UAE
With the increasing environmental threats that the world is currently facing, the United Arab Emirates joined the countries that care for the welfare of future generations. More and more recycling centers are opening throughout the country in order to dispose of the used products and create new ones using their remainders (USA International Business Publications, 2007). The recycling of used tires, however, remains underdeveloped. This concerns not only the UAE but a range of other countries as well. The value of this research consists in not only paying attention to a vital problem the country has to solve but it’s proposing definite solutions to this problem.
There is a common view that used tires are of little value, which is why, once they reach the end of their lives, they are simply discarded. Being not desired at the landfills due to the large space that they occupy, there is simply no place where this product, when used, can be kept: “When the volumes were small, the problem was containable, but with the growth of vehicle sales the number of used tires has grown rapidly in the past few decades” (Mullineux, 2004, p. 73). The UAE, just like a range of other countries, faces the problem of recycling the used tires that are currently simply burnt with no financial benefits, let alone the damage that such ‘disposal’ causes to the environment. This research proposal is going to outline the ways to make the recycling of tires more beneficial financially and less harmful environmentally.
Business Issues Researched: Tires Re-Usage and Recycling
The recycling of used tires is quite developed throughout the world. According to Saddleback Educational Publishing (2008), “over 80% of scrap tires are taken from the waste stream for re-use” (p.54) Such countries as the United States, for instance, pay much attention to the re-use of tires (namely re-use, not the recycling because the latter involves complicated technological processes that damage the environment and are often cost-taking). Thus, for instance, tires are widely used in agriculture “to weigh down covers on haystacks and silage, or for other purposes where an easily handled weight is needed” (Lund, 2001, p. 18.23). Used tires may also serve as feeding stations or as a protection for the fence posts and the like structures from the damage that may be inflicted by the livestock. This explains how the US re-uses around 2.5 million tires every year (Lund, 2001). Such a strategy can be followed by the UAE as well in addition to numerous tire recycling methods.
In case the use of tires in agriculture proves to be non-beneficial, tires recycling methods used worldwide may also be applied. One of such methods is ultrasound recycling. This method includes the application of the high-power ultrasound that makes it possible to extract separate materials from the used tires and then mold these materials into new products. Another method of tires recycling is pyrolysis, or “the thermal decomposition of rubbers in the absence of air and oxygen to produce oils and gases for reuse by petrochemical industries” (White, 2001, p. 512). Among other methods, there are microwave recycling and mechano-chemical recycling. From these two, microwave recycling is the most beneficial because it causes no emissions and makes it possible to use all the components the tires are made of.
Purpose of the Study and Rationale for the Study
The purpose of this study is to prove that the recycling of used tires can be financially and environmentally beneficial for the UAE. The recycling centers that are currently emerging in the UAE are focused on tire recycling alone without any evident financial benefits (USA International Business Publications, 2007). At the same time, they use recycling methods that are harmful to the environment. Moreover, they are even disadvantageous for the UAE that exhausts the environment and its own budget. This is the first reason why the present methods of used tires recycling should be abandoned.
Another reason is the country’s missing its chance to develop certain industries. The material from which the used tires consist may be used for the manufacturing of products in numerous industries. All that is needed is to manage the given materials properly. A number of the UAE industries can get a practically free material that can be used in production. These industries will get immense financial profits almost from nothing. In this way, the UAE will be able to deal with two problems at the same time: the industries will start developing more rapidly and the used tires will be properly recycled and treated. This study will present the exact ways how this can be achieved with the minimum threat to the environment and the maximum financial profit for the industries.
Progression of the Project
First of all, it is necessary to identify what exactly will be implemented. Searching for the best possible treatment of the used tires, several most appropriate and beneficial ways to use them have been developed. Tires may be used for the production of the following:
- Soles for the shoes;
- Rubber boots;
- Rubber gloves;
- Brake shoes;
- Mats for gyms;
- Flooring tiles;
- Garbage cans;
- New tires.
As it can be seen, a number of industries may benefit from using old tires. Besides, for most of these products, pure rubber that makes the most of the tire is needed. This means that the greatest part of the recycled material will be utilized. Moreover, the manufacturing of all these products may be achieved with the help of microwave recycling which, as already mentioned, is the least harmful for the environment.
The realistic progression of this project may be presented in the following flowchart:
As the flowchart shows, all the actions need to be carried out properly to solve the problem. Otherwise, there is a risk to get back to the beginning of the project. This means that the problem will remain unsolved. Similarly, if all the actions are taken properly, the problem of the used tires recycling will be solved with financial and environmental benefits derived, which, in its turn, means that the purpose of the study is achieved.
Reference List
Lund, H.F. (2001). The McGraw-Hill recycling handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill Professional.
Mullineux, N. (2004). Light vehicle tyres. Shawbury: iSmithers Rapra Publishing.
Saddleback Educational Publishing. (2008). Recycling. Irvinc, CA: Saddleback Educational Publishing.
USA International Business Publications. (2007). Doing business and investing in United Arab Emirates Guide. Washington, DC: International Business Publications.
White, J.R. (2001). Rubber technologist’s handbook. Shawbury: iSmithers Rapra Publishing.