UPCYCLING CAR TYRES, A UGANDAN STORY.

10^th December 2022 By Kaye Martin

Car tyres are a necessary menace in every society, since they are vital for all vehicles. Unfortunately, just like all manufactured goods, they have an expiry date. As per the recommendations of Michelin one of the biggest manufactures of car tyres, they have a life span of 2 to 10 years. After this time period, car tyres are expected to be disposed off. Some car tyre companies have recycling centers where worn-out tyres are exchanged for cash. Thereafter, these companies make new car tyres from the materials they have recycled. Unfortunately in Uganda, we do not have such centers.

However in Uganda, for as long as I can remember, there is been a culture of up-cycling used car tyres into sandals and shoe soles. The sandals are usually called 'Lugabire'. As to why society choose that name, am yet to find out.

LUGABIRE

The first sandals I saw in my childhood made from used car tyres were rudimentary. They were made up of purely worn-out tyres. Yet still, they were usually worn by the poorest of the poor in society. However, they always had an advantage of durability. They would last for almost ten years, just like the raw material they are made from (worn-out tyres). As time has gone by the manufactures of 'Lugabire' have gradually improved the quality of these products by incorporating leather and flattening the rubber pieces they get from the car tyres. Additionally, they have started making shoes soles from worn-out tyres. These shoe soles are incorporated onto the leather flip-flops we buy. As of today these improved sandals with worn-out tyres soles are sold in almost every tourist market in Uganda

SHOES SOLES FROM WORN-OUT TYRES

On the downside, this up-cycling process of worn-out tyres is exceptionally labor intensive. Yet still, the profit margins are notably too low. I shall presume that this is the reason this culture of up-cycling worn-out tyres has not spread out throughout the world. However, it is worth noting this culture is common in East, Central and Southern African Countries.

In conclusion, this culture of up-cycling worn-out car tyres in East, Central and Southern African Countries is worth emulating. It minimizes the menace of worn-out tyres in dump pits while giving a livelihood to some people in society. Yet still, it gives worn-out car tyres a second lease to life.