A Look at What’s Ahead for Scrap Tire Recycling

According to a report released by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), tire-derived fuel (TDF) continues to be the largest end market for recycled scrap tires. USTMA also notes that about 43 percent of scrap tires were recycled for TDF use, while ground rubber serves as the second largest end market. However, 16 percent of scrap tires generated in 2017 were landfilled, according to the report.

Recycling Today reports that although TDF serves as the largest end market for scrap tires, TDF demand is steadily declining every year. While many scrap tires are being recycled, USTMA’s 2017 report notes a slight decline in the recycling of tires overall compared with its 2015 report.

Recycling Today has more details:

Scrap tire recycling can be viewed as a success story as scrap tire stockpiles have steadily declined throughout the past few decades, according to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), Washington. The association released its “2017 U.S. Scrap Tire Management Summary” July 18, 2018, which reveals that about 60 million tires are left in stockpiles.

“I would say that scrap tire recycling in this particular report demonstrates a real environmental success story,” John Sheerin, USTMA’s director of end-of-life tire programs, says. “In 1991, over 1 billion scrap tires [were] in stockpiles, now it’s at 60 million. So, it’s a 94 percent decrease—a positive story to tell.”

With fewer scrap tires left in stockpiles, more are being recycled and used by various end markets. According to USTMA’s 2018 report, tire-derived fuel (TDF) continues to be the largest end market for recycled scrap tires. USTMA reports that about 43 percent of scrap tires were recycled for TDF use, while ground rubber serves as the second largest end market (25 percent). The USTMA also reports, however, that 16 percent of scrap tires generated in 2017 were landfilled.

Read the full article here.