Recent advances on waste tires: bibliometric analysis, processes, and waste management approaches

End of life tires (ELTs) are a pressing environmental concern due to their non-biodegradable nature and potential release of toxic chemicals, as confirmed by human health exposure studies. The expanding transport sector, driven by the automotive industry, has led to inadequate attention to safe tire disposal. This review extracted papers using keywords such as "waste tire rubber," "waste tire pollution," and "waste tire applications" from 2012 to 2023. Recycling publications have surged by 80% in the past decade, with China and the USA leading the research. Pyrolysis and devulcanization methods have emerged as key circular economy (CE) advancements, producing fuel and reusable rubber. Globally, 1.5 billion waste tires accumulate yearly, projected to increase by 70% in the next 30 years if unaddressed. Around 26 million tonnes of used tires are generated annually worldwide, while civil engineering and backfilling use 17 million tonnes of recycled rubber particles. These tires are complex polymer composites, primarily composed of natural and synthetic rubber. The amorphous nature of rubber results in a 50% loss of mechanical properties when exposed to chemicals and microbes, shortening its lifespan. This paper explores the applicability of waste tire rubber and polymer fabrication to offer eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions for proper disposal, mitigating environmental accumulation.