Five Benefits of Recycling Rubber

Aug 25, 2021 | Go Green

Why should we be recycling rubber? We’re surrounded by rubber; whether you’re on the road, in a parking lot, or driving your car, rubber is all around you.

Rubber is a versatile substance used for a wide range of applications, some of these applications we use regularly or see used on a daily basis.

Whether you’re using rubber for a sign base or curbing system, it’s bound to find its way to your business, your construction site, and even your parking lot.

RubberForm is known for its use of recycled rubber and plastics. Using recycled materials is an innovative way to be a part of the green initiative, and RubberForm’s way of being part of the solution to the fossil fuel and waste crisis.

Our products are made from 100% American recycled rubber.  You’ll find that some of our products are made with recycled scrap tire crumb rubber, such as our portable sign bases, a go-to when considering curbside pickup for your business. 

We’re here to talk about the benefits of using recycled rubber and why it is important for the environment, but you might be wondering: what exactly is recycled rubber? What is tire crumb rubber? We’re here to answer those questions for you:

Recycled Rubber

Recycled rubber is the rubber that has been reused from scrap materials, such as used tires. RubberForm sources these used tires from High Tread International Inc, a tire-shredding facility that is located in Lockport, NY.  

When reducing scrap tires or other rubber into uniform granules, you are inherently creating crumb rubber. This process includes removing contaminants such as dust, glass, rock, steel, or fiber.  

Why should I use recycled rubber products?

Resolves Landfill Issues

We’ve said it before – rubber is a substance that is used regularly in many industries. Every day people rely on their rubber tires to get them to and from work. However, we know tires don’t last forever. So what happens to your old tires when you’re ready to buy new ones?

Sometimes, they end up in landfills, though this is not always the case (we’ll get to that part later). Landfills are overwhelmed due to the exuberant amounts of trash they receive, so by recycling and using recycled rubber products, you alleviate the problem by not adding to it. 

Innovative Creations

Most of us who drive have probably driven over speed bumps or speed humps (yes, there is a difference). At RubberForm, these products are made with recycled rubber. Recycled rubber also allows us to make a plethora of other creations, like spill containment berms, curbing systems, trackout control mats, to name a few. 

Our quality rubber products are used by urban planners, construction workers, and also serve residential purposes. Whether it be to design safer parking lots or work areas, there is always a use for our products. 

Reduces Pollution

Remember how we mentioned that tires sometimes end up in landfills? Due to tires being large, bulky, and taking up lots of space, landfills won’t always accept them. If tires aren’t being put in landfills, they have to go somewhere. Unfortunately, they sometimes end up in our oceans or rivers, destroying marine life. They are also illegally discarded in woods or roadsides, or other random places in nature. By dumping tires in various places, you are contributing to pollution. Recycling tires decreases your overall carbon footprint as well as greenhouse gases emissions. 

Boosts Your Local Economy

This one may seem obvious, but it’s worthy of mentioning. Afterall, where would RubberForm be without recycled rubber products? It is our speciality and a material we take pride in using. To add, the rubber recycling industry is a hub for job creation. 

John Dunham and Associates conducted a study on the significance of the rubber recycling industry. The findings state that this industry “generates more than $1.6 billion annually in economic activity. This includes providing nearly 8,000 good paying jobs (direct and indirect) in all 50 states that generate more than $500 million in employee wages and $182 million in federal, state, and local tax revenues.” 

Relieves Environmental Pressure

Fun fact about rubber: it comes from latex-producing plants. The history of natural rubber dates back to 1600 B.C. Today, we seek alternative sources for rubber, which is an extremely beneficial thing for the environment due to the complicated process of growing and harvesting these plants. The high demand for rubber is no competition for the natural but lengthy, laborious process. 

From playing your part with keeping our planet green, to providing thousands of jobs, recycled rubber is the most efficient path to take when you’re in need of rubber products. 

Have a question about any of the products we mentioned? Call us today to learn more about these products, or to learn more about our company.