The End of the World

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by malloyd

What? You can't? You mean The Great Gonzo lied to us?!

Documentary evidence shows that even he didn't succeed. Though the final scene does admit he was making progress.

(My previous response was just my favorite error message from Roadwar 2000. I don't remember why it was possible even to try to eat tires, but the game would promptly point out that you couldn't. Even post-apocalyptic scavengers aren't that desperate.)

[Luke Bunyip]

Originally Posted by malloyd

What? You can't? You mean The Great Gonzo lied to us?!

Along with the Typohians, I so want to include the Worship of the Great Gonzo in my next AtE campaign.

[Luke Bunyip]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

(My previous response was just my favorite error message from Roadwar 2000. I don't remember why it was possible even to try to eat tires, but the game would promptly point out that you couldn't. Even post-apocalyptic scavengers aren't that desperate.)

I suspected as much. But, to be honest, your memory is demonstrably better than mine. Darn, I liked that game.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Can't eat tires!

No, but microbes can. They turn the tires either into fuel or soil that crops can grow in.

Mind you I heard about a Franco-Italian company that was researching using microbes to turn plastic into protein. But I assume the flavor would be poor.

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Astromancer

No, but microbes can. They turn the tires either into fuel or soil that crops can grow in.

Are you sure? The failure of tires to decompose in landfills and toxic metal content that might leach from shredded tires used as fill or mulch both seem to be real environmental issues.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Are you sure? The failure of tires to decompose in landfills and toxic metal content that might leach from shredded tires used as fill or mulch both seem to be real environmental issues.

I don't say it wouldn't take serious work. Microbes have been used to sequester metals and biodegrade plastics. The first being far easier than the second.

[Luke Bunyip]

What is the life expectancy of a modern automotive or truck tire? Can they be recycled?

[TGLS]

They can be burnt for fuel. That's probably the primary use they'll see in the post-apocalypse.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip

What is the life expectancy of a modern automotive or truck tire? Can they be recycled?

Truck tires can be retreaded but without a sophisticated biochemistry and the industry to make use of it TGLS is right. Without a highly sophisticated recycling industry, fuel is about it. They are working on making microbial recycling of tires practical. It can be done. But for now, it's more of a stunt than a solution.

[(E)]

Originally Posted by Luke Bunyip

What is the life expectancy of a modern automotive or truck tire? Can they be recycled?

While not strictly recycling, tires filled with gravel make functional walls and retaining walls. They do match the aesthetic of the setting however.