Kuwait explores using waste tires for street pothole fixes

• Engineer Farah Al-Roumi, a Municipal Council member, suggested the establishment of specialized factories to dispose of used tires, which would also create new job opportunities.

• Engineer Alia Al-Farsi, head of the Environmental Affairs Committee in the Municipal Council, said the disposal of used tires in Kuwait still relies on randomly dumping them in landfills or in the desert, stressing that the seriousness of the issue lies in the outbreak of successive fires in these tires and their negative effects on the environment.

• Countries around the world, including Kuwait, face great challenges in preserving the environment and reducing pollution through recycling and waste treatment.

Engineer Alia Al-Farsi, head of the Environmental Affairs Committee in the Municipal Council, announced that the committee held discussions with eleven relevant parties about the possibility of using waste tires to treat and fill dangerous potholes in the streets, according to Al Rai newspaper.

This solution aims to quickly and effectively ensure public safety. Additionally, the committee examined strategies for reducing tire fires and the role of the fire brigade in this effort.

Random disposal of used tires

Al-Farsi said during the first workshop organized by the committee in the municipal council on Wednesday, titled “Tire Dumps and Their Impact on Public Health and Environmental Safety,” that the workshop discussed the random disposal of used tires in the Al-Salmi area and the outbreak of fires in them from time to time, causing fumes and substances harmful to health and the environment.

She indicated that countries around the world, including Kuwait, face great challenges in preserving the environment and reducing pollution through recycling and waste treatment.

She explained that the International Basel Convention on strategies for dealing with hazardous waste developed a comprehensive table of the benefits and drawbacks of methods for the environmentally sound disposal of waste.

Investing in waste

Al-Farsi noted that the disposal of used tires in Kuwait still relies on randomly dumping them in landfills or in the desert, stressing that the seriousness of the issue lies in the outbreak of successive fires in these tires and their negative effects on the environment.

Al-Farsi stressed the need for cooperation between all concerned parties in the country to develop sustainable environmental solutions to the problem of Al-Salmi tires, in a way that contributes to improving the environmental conditions and provides opportunities for entrepreneurs and factory owners in Kuwait.

She emphasized that investment in waste management and treatment aligns with the strategic goals of the State of Kuwait in improving the quality of life and sustaining and preserving resources.

Pollution and waste of natural resources

For her part, Engineer Farah Al-Roumi, a Municipal Council member, said, “We are aware of the danger of accumulating car tires and assembling them in landfills in a way that does not comply with environmental standards and security and safety requirements, which constitutes a threat to the environment and public health, as it is a source of pollution and a waste of natural resources.”

She added that with the increase in the size of the problem, which requires radical solutions, especially with the increasing number of used tires, the concerted efforts of the relevant authorities are needed to reach a comprehensive solution to deal with this issue.

She pointed out the necessity of developing innovative, environmentally friendly strategies and ideas to recycle this large quantity of tires, to dispose of them in safe ways, and to reuse them as raw materials for multiple industries.

She also suggested the establishment of specialized factories to dispose of these tires, which would also create new job opportunities.

Eleven relevant parties discussed using waste tires to fill dangerous potholes, including:

1. Environment Public Authority
2. Public Authority for Industry
3. World Health Organization
4. Ministry of Health
5. Ministry of Public Works
6. Ministry of Interior
7. Kuwait Fire Force
8. Fatwa and Legislation Department
9. Kuwait Society for Environmental Protection
10. Kuwait Green Building Council
11. Tire Recycling Plant

Sustainable solutions

Al-Farsi confirmed that the workshop focused on finding sustainable solutions, particularly on achieving zero waste and using fine tire waste in the asphalt industry and for Al-Raqi streets.

Engineer Alia Al-Farsi highlighted that “one of the streets in the Al-Raqi area utilized recycled materials from spent car tires.”

She emphasized that recycling is beneficial in various industries, such as fuel for factory furnaces, the manufacture of flooring for sports clubs and stadiums, and bicycle lanes.