Recycled Tyres Improve Sport Performance

Recycled tyre products can now become a durable base layer for synthetic sporting pitches.

Recycled Tyres Improve Sport Performance. Pic: supplied

The casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that the only likely use of recycled tyre products in sporting venues could be in the synthetic athletic tracks. Whilst recycled rubber is used in synthetic tracks, the reality is that when it comes to other sporting fields all that appears to be just grass or sand, may well not be.

A closer inspection of some synthetic hockey or soccer pitches may reveal a sophisticated use of recycled tyre rubber granules, providing a stable, shock absorbing and durable base layer.

Given that Australia generates the equivalent of 56 million used passenger car tyres every year, the challenge of sustainably dealing with waste of this magnitude could be significantly aided by the increased use of recycled rubber for specialist sports surfaces. But the benefits are not just environmental. Such synthetic surfaces have been shown to improve player traction, lessen impact injuries and allow for all weather use of facilities that may have previously been unusable in very wet conditions.

Tyre Stewardship Australia, a Federal and State Government supported, ACCC approved, industry cooperative program, is working with Local Government Authorities to highlight the role such surfaces could play in improving both community and environmental outcomes. The objective being to have more councils specifying surfaces utilising recycled rubber crumb when delivering high-quality sports grounds.

In addition, supporting the continuing research and development of such innovative products is a central aspect of the work of Tyre Stewardship Australia.

Other than playing surfaces, the use of rubber granules, in a mix with coarse river sand, also provides stability, grip and shock absorption for equestrian dressage arenas; with the added benefit of better performance and less wash-off in heavy rains.

Added to the sporting applications is the use of recycled rubber products in children’s play areas, especially for soft-fall surfaces. The result is increased safety and better quality and ongoing presentation of such facilities.

Rubber granules are also used as a supporting infill with natural turf and synthetic surfaces. Applications of this type are increasingly found on the surrounding edges of natural turf competition fields.

TSA continues to work with tyre recyclers, sporting surface providers and local government agencies to increase the specification of recycled rubber-based materials in modern, high performance, sporting facilities. It’s a simple measure that could make a significant difference.

For consumers, the important choice of buying tyres from one of the over 1,300 TSA Accredited tyre retailers around the country is a way of ensuring that Australia’s end-of-life tyres are sustainably managed, for the benefit of all.

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Advertising Feature - content supplied by Tyre Stewardship Australia