Anyone know how and where to recycle bike tires and tubes?

I received the following today:


> I'm planning on attending the expo this weekend and was wondering if you
> were accepting old worn-out bike tires and tubes (none of them useable
> any longer) for recycling.  The tubes have been cut into smaller pieces
> (such as lengths of 12 inches) because at the time I did that, I didn't
> think the valves were recyclable.  I now know that tubes are more
> recyclable when left whole.  Please let me know--I have a hefty bag full
> of tubes and a few dozen tires and would be very happy to keep them out
> of the waste stream if possible--

I know this comes up now and then but I usually lose interest after the third time someone erroneously declares that Working Bikes wants them, and I guess if there's an answer I never hear it.

Thanks for any info-- told the guy I'd research it and get back to him.

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Permalink Reply by Nate W on February 5, 2010 at 5:36am
I didn't go so I'm not sure how it worked, but the Chicago Winter Bike Swap was advertising tire/tube recycling. Might check with those folks to see who they found to take them:

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chicago-winter-bike-swap-1

Phone: 847-877-1189, promoter@chicagowinterbikeswap.com
Permalink Reply by Alan Lloyd on February 5, 2010 at 6:33am
The Chicago Winter Bike Swap was recycling tyres & tubes on the REI booth, but the guys there didn't really know of anything constructive that was going to happen to the tyres - they told me a few go to individuals who have their own 'projects', etc., but other than that ...

The tubes aren't as tough to pass on, as various people repurpose them - although, as I noted earlier, I think the likes of Alchemy Goods don't accept them from anywhere any more?

Nate W said:
I didn't go so I'm not sure how it worked, but the Chicago Winter Bike Swap was advertising tire/tube recycling. Might check with those folks to see who they found to take them:

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/chicago-winter-bike-swap-1

Phone: 847-877-1189, promoter@chicagowinterbikeswap.com
Permalink Reply by Alan Lloyd on February 5, 2010 at 6:35am
I think the show-stoppers here are "Liberty Tire will charge 50 cents per bike tire and tube pair. If you have a "truckload" of tires, please call to arrange your delivery."

Bikefreeek said:
From the CDOT Bike Program website (http://www.chicagobikes.org/public/donations.php)

Liberty Tire Recycling

The General Manager at Liberty Tire Recycling has agreed to accept bike tires and tubes from Chicago cyclists.

1323 W Cortland St
Weekdays, 7 AM-3:30 PM
Simply enter the office door



Liberty Tire will charge 50 cents per bike tire and tube pair. If you have a "truckload" of tires, please call to arrange your delivery.

What happens to the tires and tubes? The tires and tubes are shredded alongside auto tires and shipped to a cement kiln. The cement kiln uses rubber to burn as fuel to reduce its use of coal. Rubber also has a higher BTU rating (burning efficiency) than coal and doesn't emit oxides of sulfur like coal. By being burned, tires and tubes don't have to be placed in a landfill (which is banned from many landfills) where it will pose many more risks to the environment.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has this webpage of Frequently Asked Questions about TDF, Tire Derived Fuel. We recommend you do your own research on BTU, energy use, tire derived fuel, and rubber recycling to see if this kind of tire reycling is the right method for you.

If you have any tips to improve bike tire recycling in Chicago, please call or email Steven Vance in the Bike Program, 312-744-0513.

I've also inquired with Lakin General (http://www.lakincorp.com/) but they also charge to recycle them. If anyone does find a place that will take them for free in Chicago proper please let us know. Thanks!
Permalink Reply by Jack on March 9, 2010 at 7:22am
Check this site out:

http://www.cycledog.com/
Permalink Reply by dan brown on March 9, 2010 at 9:11am
some lbs's have guys that come in and get them and then patch them.

I use them for bungee cords, tying things, etc.


tires ? not sure. I know running shoes can be donated and shredded and turned into playground
padding.

DB
Permalink Reply by BalloonBiker on March 9, 2010 at 9:19am
Permalink Reply by Alan Lloyd on March 9, 2010 at 9:53am
I collect them from Blue City Cycles, Cambell Street Bikes & Rapid Transit - then patch them for Working Bikes!

And check these http://www.it-clips.com out for your inner-tube bungees - Blue City Cycles had them, but sold out at the Bike Winter swap-meet, I don't know if they have restocked yet?


daniel brown said:
some lbs's have guys that come in and get them and then patch them.
I use them for bungee cords, tying things, etc.

tires ? not sure. I know running shoes can be donated and shredded and turned into playground
padding.

DB
Permalink Reply by mfa cycle factory on March 9, 2010 at 11:11am
tubes come in handy as shims and patches....but they can build ip over time if you're a bike builder or converter,and the next think you know you're looking at a mountain of tubes in the middle of your garage or basement.....

lbs or bike coops.
Permalink Reply by mfa cycle factory on March 9, 2010 at 11:11am
tubes come in handy as shims and patches....but they can build ip over time if you're a bike builder or converter,and the next think you know you're looking at a mountain of tubes in the middle of your garage or basement.....

lbs or bike coops.
Permalink Reply by Sam Van Dellen on March 10, 2010 at 6:32am
So, as a shop, we try to recycle everything we possibly can. Alan Lloyd and Travis Duffy take care of our tube problems, we have paper recycling, metal goes out in a bin for the scrappers, and our upstairs neighbors have blue bins for glass and plastic recyclables. Usable tires are hung on the dumpster for people to use, which is great, but the UN-usable tires are still thrown away.

What with the new shop, spring coming on, etc, we really don't have the time to set up a tire recycling program, but we would be ecstatic if someone made this happen. I know there are many shops in the area who could benefit from this as well, maybe some sort of co-operative thing could be set up. If someone set up a reliable, easy to use service, we would probably pay someone to take them away, but it would have to REALLY be reliable and easy to use like our cardboard recycling.
Permalink Reply by Mark Kenseth on May 9, 2010 at 2:05pm
i was at mox today (halsted and randolph) and asked if they recycled tubes and tires. nope. it sounds like it's too difficult. so i took my tube and tire to add to my closet. mox is a great shop, but it seems like many bike shops don't know a good way to recycle tube and tires.

i see the burning tire issue; legislation news which i recieve from the ISEC newsletter. burning tires is not good.

just my observation: being "green" seems to be difficult in chicago. there are a lot of "old dogs" to train." to me it seems like bike shops and the city need a very easy option. from what i've seen and heard, like at mox, if it's not super easy or motivated by money, people seem to not care about what goes into the waste stream. and it's not that they may not care, but they just don't know 1) how bad not recycling is, and 2) how to recycle such as tubes and tires.

keep up the search for a good alternative to throwing tubes and tires in the landfill. i appreciate this post. if i find anything, i'll let you know.
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on May 9, 2010 at 2:34pm
what if we did something like Pee Wee Herman and his foil ball:))

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