How Kwik Fit Recycles Tyres with Murfitts

At Kwik Fit, we’re committed to helping make our industry greener, with environmental responsibility being something that we take seriously. With millions of tyres passing through our centres each year, we understand the significant impact that proper tyre disposal can have on our planet. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to ensure that every tyre we replace is handled in a way that minimises waste and supports sustainability. By partnering with the UK’s largest tyre recycling specialists, Murfitts Industries Ltd, we are able to ensure tyres are 100% recycled.

In this blog, we’ll take you through our tyre recycling process, explain why it is so important, as well as showing you how your choice to trust Kwik Fit plays a vital role in protecting the environment.

The importance of tyre recycling

Did you know that tyres need to be changed every 20,000 miles on average? This brings forward the question of what exactly happens to those tyres once they’ve been replaced by your local garage or tyre specialist. Without proper recycling practices, these tyres can pose significant environmental and public health risks, meaning there are a number of reasons why proper tyre recycling is important.

The main impact is on the environment. Tyres are notorious for their environmental impact, as they take hundreds of years to decompose, resulting in long term pollution. Not only are tyres flammable, but they can release harmful chemicals into soil and groundwater if left in landfill.

Recycling tyres also saves energy that would otherwise be used to manufacture new ones. Ultimately, this leads to a reduction in greenhouse gases. With appropriate recycling, these tyres instead can be transformed into valuable materials used in various applications, such as rubber crumb for playground surfaces, sports fields, and road construction.

There is also a significant waste tyre regulation in the UK whereby whole tyres were banned from landfill sites around 2002, with end-of-life tyres being banned from UK landfills as a result of the EU Landfill Directive. The Government has since stated that the aim is to move the industry in the UK towards becoming a ‘zero waste economy’.

What do Kwik Fit do with old tyres?

As outlined above, environmental friendliness is at the forefront of many consumers' minds. At Kwik Fit, we have a network of tyre service centres across the UK, and have a substantial volume of used tyres each year. To ensure these tyres are disposed of responsibly, we have established a robust tyre recycling process.

We partner with Murfitts who are one of the UK’s main tyre recycling companies. They have developed a sophisticated tyre recycling system which enables the recovery of tyre materials, repurposing them to manufacture innovative products.

Every time you buy new tyres from Kwik Fit, your old tyres are then sent to our tyre recycling facility, ensuring that they are stored in a way that prevents potential hazards, such as fires, while they await processing. Murfitts then turn the tyres into rubber granulate or rubber crumb which can be used to make new rubber products, such as artificial sports pitches.

What happens to recycled tyres?

What happens to recycled tyres? When tyres are sent to Murfitts for recycling, they go through the initial breakdown process. This involves largely removing all non rubber parts, including steel and textile fibres, which are both disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.

Once the rubber part is separated, it is then further processed into smaller granules, commonly referred to as rubber crumb. This is the primary product derived from recycled tyres, and has a wide range of applications as we’ve touched on above, including sports and playground surfaces, and even road surfaces.

Why tyre recycling with Kwik Fit matters

Choosing Kwik Fit for not only your tyre maintenance needs, but also your tyre recycling, is a solid commitment to overall sustainability and environmental responsibility. The entire recycling process at Murfitts is designed to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, ensuring your tyres are not just discarded - but are given a new life as valuable products.

If you’re unsure or have any further questions regarding the appropriate disposal of your tyres, and want to benefit from our expert knowledge, simply contact our friendly team of tyre professionals or head to our blog section today. Our team can provide you with experienced advice, as well as the best tyre solutions.