What happens when a tire is no longer usable? Where does it go? Join Into the Outdoors Adventure Team as we investigate sustainable solutions for scrap tires.

Every year over 300 million tires are discarded in the US. In the past, they were thrown into landfills or dumped illegally. That’s a lot of waste! But today there are many ways scrap tires can be reused or recycled. The ITO Adventure Team travels to Michigan, Colorado and Minnesota to learn how scrap tire disposal is being managed. We learn why illegal dumping is hazardous to human health and the environment.

In Minnesota, we learn about Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA). It’s durable, light-weight, permeable, and can be used in a variety of engineering and construction applications. It prevents frost heaving, solves sinking soil issues, and can even be used to help clean storm-water contaminants.

In Michigan and Colorado, we discover several other products made from scrap tires. Tires can be shredded into different sizes for use as landscaping, molded products, road coverings, and more. It can also be processed into Tire-Derived Fuel, which provides even higher BTUs than coal.

Sometimes environmental issues feel like mountains, but with creative ideas and working together, we can make a difference! If we can find sustainable solutions for a material like tires…what other environmental solutions can we come up with?!

Full Video

Classroom Videos

Sustainability, Engineering and Tires

Scrap Tires, A Waste Material No Longer

Classroom Assets

Tires 2 Lesson Plan

Scrap Tires, A Waste Material No Longer

Related Content

The Science of Modern Biofuels

Okay, we admit that harnessing the biochemical reaction of yeasts converting the carbohydrates in corn mash into ethanol is pretty slick (as ancients discovered eons...

Women Reshaping Conservation & Hunting

Why are women becoming the fastest growing segment of hunters in America today? Their reasons for breaking the stereotype image of men in blaze orange range from...

Into National Marine Sanctuaries

The earth's oceans are home to thousands of species of marine life, from tiny plankton to enormous humpback whales. The Great Lakes' contain more than six thousand...

Turning Crude Oil into Fuels

Have you ever wondered where the fuels that power our vehicles comes from? Or, have you thought about how they turn syrupy black crude into the clear gasoline and fuels...

Soybean Sustainability

Sometimes, we think that the food we eat just pops out of the ground or appears magically at our supermarkets, but the truth is much different. Jacob and Gianna, our...

Into Wetland Conservation

In this Into the Outdoors episode, we’re taking you to South Dakota to learn about how wetland habitats are being protected on both public and private lands. Join Into...

Protecting Forests, Enhancing Lives

In Protecting Forests, Enhancing Lives two girls examine the perception that clear cutting forests is destroying the natural environment by visiting forests and...

Into Environmental Sustainability

In this Into the Outdoors episode, Adventure Team member, Zach, heads out into his community to learn more about sustainability and his role in creating a healthier...

Into Wildlife Rehabilitation: First Responders

If you found an injured wild animal, what would you do? There are many myths and misinformation about how to rescue animals, and doing the wrong thing can add stress or...

Managing Forests for Multi-Use

Discover how sustainable forest management benefits wildlife, recreation, and the economy. From protecting ecosystems to producing forest products, learn how forests...

Thank you, Partners!