Idea of making reef from tires backfires

[Judi Lynn]

Idea of making reef from tires backfires
Four decades later, Florida now considers removing up to two million tires


Updated: 15 minutes ago
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - A mile offshore from this city's high-rise condos and spring-break bars lie as many as 2 million old tires, strewn across the ocean floor — a white-walled, steel-belted monument to good intentions gone awry.

The tires were unloaded there in 1972 to create an artificial reef that could attract a rich variety of marine life, and to free up space in clogged landfills. But decades later, the idea has proved a huge ecological blunder.

Little sea life has formed on the tires. Some of the tires that were bundled together with nylon and steel have broken loose and are scouring the ocean floor across a swath the size of 31 football fields. Tires are washing up on beaches. Thousands have wedged up against a nearby natural reef, blocking coral growth and devastating marine life.

The really good idea was to provide habitat for marine critters so we could double or triple marine life in the area. It just didn't work that way," said Ray McAllister, a professor of ocean engineering at Florida Atlantic University who was instrumental in organizing the project. "I look back now and see it was a bad idea."
(snip/...)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17189132/

[Frustratedlady]

1. But, but, but...............look at all the tires .

they unloaded :sarcasm:

We should be ashamed of those using the oceans, rivers, seas and mines as dumping grounds.

[redqueen]

2. Unbelievable...

Why try something on such a large scale without trying it on a smaller scale first?

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Don't they use tires in processing scrap steel now?

Lots of carbon and hydrogen, not to mention steel -- but the lead weights and any solder need to be removed first.

The Google found this interesting bit: http://www.koueiinternational.com/pyrolysis.htm

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Any lead weights and solder are on the wheels, not the tires....

Tires have steel and nylon belting but no lead weights. Balancing weights are attached to the rim or wheel, not the rubber.

My guess for the reason this idea failed is because tires are made of petroleum and what fish want to hang around a petrochemical dump?

[tecelote]

5. Sounds like this good idea...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x83452