Have you ever thought about how much car tires pollute? Probably not, but a British start-up has thought of it for you. The Tire Collective (that I've been following for a while) has finally developed a gadget that looks like something out of a science fiction movie: it sucks up the tiny particles that tires leave on the asphalt every time we drive. These particles are not only bad news for our beautiful planet, but with this new device we could start saying goodbye to this type of pollution. Sounds amazing, right? But it's all true, and it could be an ecological turning point not to be underestimated.
An underestimated environmental problem
Tire pollution is an often overlooked problem. Every year, millions of tons of fine particles of rubber they are released into the environment due to tire wear. These residues not only contaminate the soil, but also the air and water, with negative impacts on human health and ecosystems. If you consider the "lethal" pairing with the microplastics, it's not a pretty scenario.
The Tire Collective, a start-up founded in 2020 by three young researchers from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, set itself the goal of tackling this environmental challenge. The three "musketeers" created a device capable of sucking the fine dust produced by tires. Thanks to their intuition, they discovered that these particles are electrostatically charged, allowing their device to effectively capture them.
How the device works
The device, as mentioned, uses electrostatic force to attract and trap gum residue and other particles ranging in size from 0,3 to 136 microns. In doing so it also makes use of the air flow generated by the movement of the vehicle. According to the inventors, is able to collect approximately 60% of the particles, representing a significant turning point in the fight against microplastic pollution and tire abrasion. We can do more, right? And in fact they are working to further improve the device.
Recycling and reuse of tire waste
Once collected, the residues are separated through a chemical process and recycled. The goal of The Tire Collective is to “transform pollution into useful products”, such as new tyres, soundproofing panels, shoe soles or bitumen. The founders are open to collaborations: currently, the project is in the participatory financing phase.
