## 5 Conclusions  
The environmental impact of managing ELTs varies significantly across disposal methods, each presenting distinct challenges and benefits in terms of carbon footprint and resource depletion. This study compares landfilling, incineration, and recycling methods to determine the most sustainable options for ELT disposal. Calculations using the OpenLCA software 2.0.2 reveal that recycling 1 ton of car tires results in emissions of 122.9 kg CO2 equivalent, while truck tires emit 36.1 kg CO2 equivalent per ton. In contrast, incinerating the same quantity of ELTs emits 69.3 kg CO2 equivalent per ton when direct combustion emissions are excluded. However, including CO2 emissions from burning tires raises the total impact significantly to 1693.6 kg CO2 equivalent per ton. Producing 1 ton of new tires results in a far higher environmental burden, equivalent to 2766.6 kg CO2 equivalent emitted. Under the most negative scenarios--factoring in emissions from both production and incineration--the total environmental impact can reach as high as 4460.2 kg CO2 equivalent per ton of tires. ELT recycling presents a sustainable alternative by recovering materials such as crumb rubber through mechanical shredding. The application of crumb rubber in cement composites offers multiple environmental and structural advantages. Furthermore, replacing river sand with crumb rubber in cement composites not only reduces dependency on natural resources but also achieves a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions. Specifically, substituting river sand with crumb rubber results in a 24.06% reduction in GWP, showcasing its potential as an environmentally friendly construction material. From a broader perspective, ELT recycling offers a dual advantage over incineration processes. First, mechanical recycling avoids the release of harmful emissions, such as the 1680-2270 kg CO2 equivalent per ton of ELTs typically produced during incineration. Second, it reduces the overall CO2 emissions by integrating recycled materials into construction, addressing the environmental burden associated with new tire production. Incinerating ELTs, which contributes significantly to CO2 pollution, is increasingly viewed as an avoidable option. The emergence of sophisticated recycling systems provides a much-needed alternative, offering the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of ELTs while promoting sustainable material use. Looking forward, there is immense potential for growth in developing substitute processes that enhance sustainability across the tire lifecycle. This includes the manufacturing of eco-friendly and recyclable tires, as well as the optimization of crumb rubber's applications in construction to balance environmental benefits with structural integrity. Advancing these innovations can lead to a more sustainable and circular approach to ELT management. Conceptualization, G.K., V.V., G.B. and A.K. ; methodology, G.K., V.V. and G.B. ; software, G.K. and V.V. ; validation, V.V., G.B. and G.K.; formal analysis, V.V. ; investigation, G.B. ; resources, A.K. ; data curation, G.K. and G.B. ; writing--original draft preparation, G.K.; writing--review and editing, G.K., G.B. and V.V. ; visualization, G.B. and G.K.; supervision, A.K. and D.B. ; project administration, A.K. ; funding acquisition, A.K. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This work has been supported by the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility within the Project No 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/003 \"Implementation of consolidation and management changes at Riga Technical University, Liepaja University, Rezekne Academy of Technology, Latvian Maritime Academy and Liepaja Maritime College for the progress towards excellence in higher education, science and innovation\" academic career doctoral grant (ID 1065). Not applicable. All research data are included in this publication. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.