Application of Waste Tire in Construction: A Road towards Sustainability and Circular Economy

• Published in: Sustainability 2024-05, Vol.16 (9), p.3852
• Main Authors: Hassan, Mohammad R, Rodrigue, Denis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air pollution; Circular economy; Civil engineering; Economic aspects; Environmental sustainability; Outdoor air quality; Particle size; R&D; Raw materials; Recycling; Refuse and refuse disposal; Research & development; Road construction industry; Rubber; Rubber industry; Textiles; Tires; Waste management
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su16093852

The global demand for rubber is on a steady rise, which is driven by the increasing production of automobiles and the growing need for industrial, medical, and household products. This surge in demand has led to a significant increase in rubber waste, posing a major global environmental challenge. End-of-life tire (ELT) is a primary source of rubber waste, having significant environmental hazards due to its massive stockpiles. While landfilling is a low-cost and easy-to-implement solution, it is now largely prohibited due to environmental concerns. Recently, ELT rubber waste has received considerable attention for its potential applications in civil engineering and construction. These applications not only enhance sustainability but also foster a circular economy between ELT rubber waste with the civil engineering and construction sectors. This review article presents a general overview of the recent research progress and challenges in the civil engineering applications of ELT rubber waste. It also discusses commercially available recycled rubber-based construction materials, their properties, testing standards, and certification. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time such a discussion on commercial products has been presented, especially for civil engineering applications.