Scrap Tires Become Recycling Success Story
More than 75 percent of scrap tires generated in the U.S. are being put to productive uses, according a report issued by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA).
State cleanup programs and effective regulations continue to reduce stockpiled scrap tires, the report notes, despite an increasing vehicle population on the nation’s roads over the past decade.
“Since 1990, RMA and its members not only have worked with state regulators and legislators to create effective scrap tire clean up programs but we also have worked with public officials and the private sector to promote end use markets for scrap tires,” said Michael Blumenthal, RMA senior technical director.
The use of scrap tires in end use markets has soared from 11 percent to 77 percent since 1990. Almost 220 million scrap tires were used in end markets in 2001.
“Seventy-seven percent of the 281million scrap tires produced last year went to end use markets,” Blumenthal said. “That rate is 10 times higher than ten years ago. Compared to other secondary materials such as glass, plastic, and aluminum, tires have a higher rate of recovery.”
Scrap tires are used in a number of productive and environmentally safe applications. One of the most common markets for scrap tires is ground rubber, which is used to make playground surfaces, running tracks and molded rubber goods.
The largest use for ground rubber continues to be asphalt rubber, which is used in road construction. However, some obstacles remain to broader use of asphalt rubber.
“To a large extent, any large increase in the use of asphalt rubber depends on the level of interest and commitment by state Departments of Transportation,” the RMA report noted. “There simply must be a willingness to accept this technology and make its use routine.”
Blumenthal added that state training programs offer the best hope to increase the use of asphalt rubber.
According to RMA, the fastest growing market for scrap tires is civil engineering. Shredded scrap tires are used as fill for construction of highway embankments and bridge abutments. They also are used in landfill construction projects in leachate collection systems as well as gas venting systems and as part of the cap closure.
“Over the last two years, the market has doubled and we anticipate annual growth of 20-50 percent in the coming years,” Blumenthal said.
About 40 percent of scrap tires are used as a supplemental fuel, called tire derived fuel (TDF), in the cement, paper and electric industries.
“Since 1998, TDF use has increased due to its cost effectiveness for cement kiln operations, a temporary spike in fuel prices and an improvement in quality of TDF,” Blumenthal said. “It also is an efficient fuel to help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions from cement kilns.”
Of the 300 million tires still in stockpiles, about 85 percent are located in nine states — Texas, New York, Michigan, Alabama, Ohio, Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Five of those states – New York, Alabama, Texas, Michigan and Colorado – either have no comprehensive scrap tire management program or are not focusing their current program on stockpile abatement.
“RMA will continue to work with state regulators and legislators to develop and implement effective scrap tire clean up and management programs,” Blumenthal said.
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.
