Solid Waste Management -

Assignment 2

Jaimin Sanjay Gajjar (B20AI014)

Question 1

💡 What are the different categories of tyres used in Indian vehicles? Is it dependent
on the type of vehicles? Explain it briefly. (Mention the source name referred)

Categories of Tyres Used in Indian Vehicles

The Indian tyre industry encompasses various categories of tyres tailored for different types
of vehicles, reflecting the diverse automotive landscape in the country. These categories are
influenced by the specific needs and demands of different vehicle segments. The sources
consulted for this information include:

Indian Tyre Industry Report from

https://www.alphainvesco.com/blog/understanding-the-indian-tyre-
industry/
In India, the categories of tyres used in vehicles are primarily based on the type of vehicle and
its intended use. The key categories include:

1. Truck & Bus (T&B) Tyres: These tyres are a significant revenue generator in the Indian
market, constituting 55% of total revenue. They cater to the commercial transportation
sector and are crucial for the movement of goods and passengers.

2. Passenger Vehicle (PV) Tyres: PV tyres are designed for cars and other personal
vehicles. In India, the penetration of passenger vehicles is relatively low compared to
global standards, influencing the demand for these tyres.

3. 2/3-Wheeler Tyres: These tyres are specific to motorcycles, scooters, and other two or
three-wheeled vehicles, which are prevalent modes of transportation in India.

4. Off-Highway Tyres (OHT): OHT tyres are specialized for off-road vehicles, agricultural
machinery, and construction equipment, meeting the demands of rugged terrains and

Solid Waste Management - Assignment 2 1

 heavy-duty applications.

5. Others: This category may include specialty tyres for specific vehicles like agricultural
tractors, industrial equipment, and other niche applications.

The segmentation of tyres in India is also influenced by the end market, with a focus on
replacement, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and exports. The dominance of the
replacement segment, contributing around 70% of total revenues, underscores the importance
of aftermarket sales in the Indian tyre industry.

IS 15633 (2005) and IS 15636 (2012) standards from

1. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S13/is.15633.2005.pdf

2. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S13/is.15636.2012.pdf

Tire Type Description Typical Usage

Standard tires designed for general use on roads Cars, SUVs, light trucks for
Normal Tire and highways. They offer balanced performance everyday driving on paved
in various weather conditions and road surfaces. roads.

Tires specifically engineered for improved

traction and handling in snow and ice Used in regions with regular
Snow Tire conditions. They typically have deeper treads snowfall or for winter
and special rubber compounds to enhance grip driving conditions.
on slippery surfaces.

Similar to regular snow tires but designed to

perform even better in extreme snow and ice Extreme winter conditions,
Snow Tire for
conditions. They often have additional features such as areas with heavy
Severe Conditions
like metal studs for enhanced traction on icy snowfall or icy roads.
roads.

Tires designed for specific applications or Various applications

vehicles that require unique performance including racing, off-
Special Use Tire
characteristics, such as high-speed performance, roading, towing, or industrial
off-road capability, or extreme load capacity. vehicles.

Tires optimized for maximum traction on

surfaces like mud, gravel, or loose soil. They Off-road vehicles, ATVs,
Traction Tire typically have aggressive tread patterns and trucks used in construction
durable construction to handle challenging off- or agriculture.
road conditions.

Reinforced or Extra Tires with reinforced sidewalls and construction Trucks, vans, SUVs used for
Load Tire to support heavier loads without compromising hauling, towing, or

Solid Waste Management - Assignment 2 2

 performance or safety. They are often used on commercial applications.
vehicles carrying heavy cargo or towing trailers.

Versatile tires designed for various terrains and

applications, including on-road and off-road Military vehicles, utility
MPT (Multi-
driving. They offer good traction, durability, and trucks, off-road vehicles
Purpose Truck) Tire
versatility for different types of vehicles and used in diverse conditions.
environments.

Heavy-duty tires specifically designed to

withstand the extreme conditions encountered in Mining trucks, logging
ML (Mining and
mining and logging operations. They are built to equipment, heavy-duty
Logging) Tire
endure rough terrain, heavy loads, and abrasive construction vehicles.
surfaces over long periods.

Tires with deeper tread patterns than standard

Vehicles operating in areas
tires, providing enhanced traction and longer
ET (Extra Tread) with challenging road
tread life. They offer improved grip on wet and
Tire conditions or requiring
slippery surfaces and are more resistant to wear
extended tread life.
and tear.

High-performance tires designed for

Off-road racing vehicles,
professional off-road racing and recreational off-
POR (Professional recreational off-roaders,
roading. They feature aggressive tread patterns,
Off-Road) Tire modified trucks for extreme
reinforced sidewalls, and special compounds for
off-road use.
maximum grip and durability on rough terrain.

References:

1. https://www.alphainvesco.com/blog/understanding-the-indian-tyre-industry/

2. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S13/is.15633.2005.pdf

3. https://law.resource.org/pub/in/bis/S13/is.15636.2012.pdf

4. https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/ASI/9262018100031AMDraft_AIS_142_DF.pdf

5. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-alloy-wheel-section/242225-why-i-will-never-
drive-any-tyre-other-than-michelins.html

Question 2

💡 Based on the authentic source, estimate the tentative amount of generation of tyre
waste in India on yearly basis. (Mention the source referred)

Solid Waste Management - Assignment 2 3

 Critical situations, in fact, relate to the year 2020 when some 275,000 tires were being
disposed of annually in the country; added to these were another 3 million coming from other
countries but imported into this country for recycling. Last year, in 2019, the National Green
Tribunal (NGT) also ordered the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to formulate an
effective strategy for the management and recycling of those old tires.

The sum of all discarded and imported net tires marked for recycling is made so that we
would reach the total annual tire waste. This includes:

Discarded tires: 275,000

Imported tires for recycling: 3,000,000

Additionally, we consider the total imported and exported tires across various categories in
2020:

Passenger and light commercial vehicle tires:

Imported: 115.9 million

Exported: 75.2 million

Truck and bus tires:

Imported: 5.86 million

Exported: 5.3 million

Moto and scooter tires:

Imported: 8.83 million

Exported: 3.2 million

Agricultural tires:

Imported: 5.07 million

Exported: 0.732 million

Total annual tire waste calculation:

Total annual tire waste = Discarded tires + Net imported tires for recycling
Total annual tire waste = (275,000 + 3,000,000) + (115,900,000 + 5,860,000 + 8,830,000 +
5,070,000 - 75,200,000 - 5,300,000 - 3,200,000 - 732,000)

Total annual tire waste ≈ 117,760,000 - 84,432,000

Total annual tire waste ≈ 33,328,000 tires

Recycling of tires in India can produce useful products that include reclaimed rubber,
crjsonumb rubber, and pyrolysis oil. Apprehensions of the negative environmental impacts of

Solid Waste Management - Assignment 2 4

 such a recycling process have been persistent. According to reported cases, it showed that
some of the companies recycling materials were actually involved with producing some low-
quality materials and also discharging some chemical discharges that can be considered
dangerous for health and the environment.

Citations:

1. https://www.ijraset.com/best-journal/tyre-waste-management-where-we-are-where-we-
are-headed

This source discusses the surge in the demand for tyres in India due to the increasing
number of vehicles. It mentions that India produces around 169 million tyres daily,
discarding about 275,000 of them annually. Additionally, it estimates that 0.6 million tons
of scrap tyres are generated yearly in India, with the country responsible for 6% of the
global discarded tyre production

2. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/journey-waste-tyre-tubes-shailaja-rangarajan

The article highlights that globally, around 1.6 billion new tyres are generated annually,
with approximately 1 billion waste tyres produced. India contributes about 6-7% of the
global waste tyre total, with inadequate waste management structures in place. It also
mentions the risks associated with waste tyres, such as illegal dumping and
environmental pollution

3. https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/tyres/environment-ministry-brings-out-
draft-epr-notification-for-waste-tyres/88724141
The Environment Ministry in India has introduced a draft Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR) notification for waste tyres to regulate their management. It reveals
that India discards approximately 275,000 tyres annually without a comprehensive
disposal plan and imports about 3 million waste tyres for recycling. The Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) has been directed to develop a waste management plan for end-
of-life tyres.

4. https://www.corpzo.com/setting-up-a-tyre-pyrolysis-recycling-business-in-india
This source discusses setting up a tyre pyrolysis recycling business in India, emphasizing
the importance of proper waste tyre disposal. It mentions that India discards about
275,000 tyres yearly without a comprehensive disposal plan and introduces government
policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to ensure responsible tyre disposal.
The article also touches on the environmental impact of tyre pyrolysis plants and the
potential for economic growth in the tyre recycling sector

5. https://india.mongabay.com/2024/02/explainer-why-are-waste-tyres-a-growing-
environmental-concern/?amp=1

Solid Waste Management - Assignment 2 5

 The article explains why waste tyres are a growing environmental concern in India due to
the rising demand for vehicles and tyres. It mentions that India discards around 2 million
metric tonnes of tyres annually, with 0.8 million metric tonnes imported as scrap. The
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has introduced
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for waste tyres to ensure safe disposal. The
article also details the environmental and health impacts of waste tyres, such as pollution
and fire hazards

Question 3

💡 Summarize the feasible technical aspects of different methods (such as pyrolysis,

gasification, reuse, recycle, or others) to process the tyres waste generated in
India. The reference research articles are attached for your overview. However, the
students are allowed to review any other research articles and mention its detail in
the assignment.

Introduction:
The sustainable management of waste is one of the important issues in the modern world; it
holds great importance with respect to the reusability and disposability of tires. Unimaginable
methods have been developed in relation to this corresponding issue, which involves its own
complexities, benefits, and obstacles. This comprehensive review studies the retreading of
products, energy recovery, pyjsonization, and recycling of products, and material recycling. It
gives insight into the technicalities and benefits or challenges presented by the retreading of
products, energy recovery, and pyjsonization for recycling products and material recycling.

Retreading: Another sustainable solution that would extend the operational life of tires to
curtail the demand for production of new tires is retreading. Buffing is part of the steps that
happen to involve the complete removal of the existing treads, usually done through the
process of buffing.
Reworking gets carried out with special equipment and skilled labor, which ensures the
maximum level of adhesion and durability is achieved, and thus, the life of the tire is greatly
extended.

Energy Recovery: So, energy recovery from tire wastes is a valid option for conventional
fossil fuels to help promote renewable energy initiatives while mitigating environmental
degradation.
The other, mostly burned in locations such as a cement kiln or boiler biomass, produces heat,
steam, or electricity. The utmost importance is, therefore, attached to the advanced

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 technologies for emissions controls, which must be taken quite seriously through regulatory
compliance in the interest of public health in order to reduce the release of air pollutants.
Pyrolysis: The process of pyrolysis is an orderly manner in which the tires break down to
result in a useful by-product, including pyrolysis oil, carbon black, and gas, which goes along
with the promotion of energy independence and proper waste management. Thermal
decomposition breaks down the subjected tires into high temperatures in an environment of
scarce oxygen to result in producing flexible materials. However, the viability of pyrolysis is
punctuated by environmental concerns, regulatory complexity, and technological fine-tuning
towards the commotion of commercial viability.
Product Recycling: Product recycling involves the process where shredded tire material is
converted into value-added products that reduce dependence on virgin material besides
diverting tires from going into landfills. The tire-derived materials are, however, recovered
from such waste through processes suchjson as shredding and mixing; thereafter, they are
further processed in fields like road construction and manufacture of rubberized goods.
The apparent benefits aside, there remain absolute challenges with the investment in
specialized equipment and how to ensure material purity, as well as stimulating market
demand.

Material Recycling (Grinding and Devulcanization): Material recycling outlines a procedure

where tires get milled into fine particles with the aid of mechanical operations, whereas
rubber is devulcanized to gain its properties. The rubber is then processed through special
grinding equipment into crumb rubber or rubber powder for manufacturing high-value-added
products. The associated problems are the requirement of specialized equipment, ensuring
quality raw material, and reaching the market for acceptability.

Comparative Analysis:

A comparative analysis highlights the distinct features, benefits, and challenges of each tire
management method:

Process Advantages Challenges

Retreading - Extends tire lifespan - Skilled labor & equipment requirements

- Reduces new tire demand - Quality control

- Cost savings

Energy Recovery - Alternative to fossil fuels - Emissions management

- Renewable energy production - Regulatory compliance

- Environmental benefits

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 Pyrolysis - Valuable product generation - Environmental concerns

- Waste reduction - Technological refinement

- Energy independence

Product Recycling - Resource conservation - Equipment investment

- Landfill diversion - Material purity

- Value-added products - Market demand

Material Recycling - Circular economy promotion - Specialized equipment

- Resource reuse - Material quality

- Environmental benefits - Market acceptance

Citations:
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/7/1604

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Waste-tyre-pyrolysis-process_fig3_352756293
https://cerclex.com/blog/recycling-used-tyres-understanding-epr-in-india/

Also referenced, the given articles in the assignment descriptions.

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