The aim of the present work is to study the processes of oxidative destruction of waste vulcanizates (flakes) with nitric acid. The composition of the particles of the main reaction product was determined (oxidized vulcanized). The IR spectra of hexane and acetone extracts of the oxidized vulcanizates are also presented. It was found that the rubber component of the vulcanizates undergoes deep structural changes leading to the formation of products characterized by chemical heterogeneity.