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TIRE WASTE RECYCLING
Most scrap tires are currently being recycled, though
approximately 20 percent are still landfilled.
RECYCLED TIRE MARKETS
Recycled tires can be used in a variety of industries
including fuel, civil engineering, synthetic asphalt production,
and agriculture.
Fuel
Using tires as a fuel source is favorable because of its high
heating value. Tires
can either be shredded or used whole, depending on the fueling
method. Tires are
able to produce 25 percent more energy than coal and the same
amount of energy as oil.
Scrap tires are presently used as fuel in cement kilns,
pulp and paper mills, electric utilities, and industrial
boilers.
Civil Engineering
Scrap tires can be shredded and used in a variety of road and
public construction projects.
These tire shreds can be used as filler for embankments,
road insulation, lines for landfills, and drain fields for
sewage systems. Tire
shreds and whole scrap tires have also been used as surface
cover for playgrounds, erosion control, racetrack crash
barriers, and marina dock bumpers.
Asphalt Rubber
Tires that are crushed into small pieces or crumbs are
referred to as ground or crumb rubber. Ground rubber is mostly
used in asphalt rubber as a binding component, coat, sealant, or
mixed aggregate.
Several states that have led the way in implementing asphalt
rubber use in highway construction have listed numerous
benefits. Compared
to traditional highway construction, asphalt rubber provides a
longer lasting surface, lower road noise, shorter breaking
distances, and a reduction in road maintenance.
Asphalt rubber has also been used as material in running
tracks, showing an increased track resiliency and decreased
impact strain for runners. Asphalt rubber can be used as a soil
additive in playing fields, improving draining, and creating
better grass rooting.
SCRAP TIRE MANAGEMENT &
DISPOSAL
Many local governments and states regulate if and how tires
may be disposed.
Improper storage and dumping of tires may pose health risks, due
to rodent and pest infestations within tire piles, and
environmental risks, due to tire fires.
For waste managers who stockpile tires, consider the
following safe practice guidelines:
1.
Accumulated
water at a site can potentially cause environmental damage.
Rainwater may accumulate in low ground spots holding
stockpiled tires, making retrieval or moving difficult.
Trapped water within stockpiled tires may spill creating
unstable soil and potentially toxic runoff.
Warm, stagnant water can also breed mosquitos, which can
carry viruses and fevers. Monitor water accumulation within and
around a storage site.
2.
Prevent the
infestation of other small pests, like snakes and rats, by
installing screens on equipment to protect workers.
3.
Heavy equipment and constant transporting can create dust
plumes, which can disrupt employees, nearby properties, and
other operations.
4.
Though
infrequent, tire fires are difficult to extinguish and produce
hazardous wastes like gas, heavy metals, and oils. Additionally,
neighbors may need to be evacuated during lengthy extinguishing
time.
Fire
smothering, using dirt or sand, is generally the most effective
in extinguishing fires.
Water can be used to prevent other tires from igniting.
Have emergency
plans and preventions in place in case of tire fires. Create and
maintain access points and travel lanes among stockpiled
tires.
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