How Many Tires Do We Scrap
The RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) is the foremost authority on the disposition of scrap tires in the United States. Their "U.S. Scrap Tire Markets 2007" report published May 2009 states that nearly 4.6 million tons of tires were scrapped in 2007. They use a conversion rule from pounds to units of one tire for every person in the United States per year which is over 300 million tires.
What Happens to Scrap Tires
Nearly 90% of scrap tires in the U.S. are consumed, not necessarily recycled, in end use markets. At the end of 2007, only 128 million scrap tires remained in stockpiles in the United States.This is a reduction of 87% since 1980. The RMA credits the individual states for their efforts to remove the tire stockpiles and to develop sustainable markets while enforcing existing scrap tire laws and regulations.
Approximatey 12% are used in civil engineering projects which include road and land fill construction and in septic tank leach fields.
The ground rubber market, which actually produces recycled rubber products, uses only about 17%. These products are used in the automotive industry as sound proofing, insulation, molding, muffler hangers, etc. Products in this group also include athletic field and track surfacing, playground covers, mulch, extruded/molded items, animal bedding and asphalt additive.
The largest scrap tire market is TDF (tire derived fuel) which consumes slightly more than 50% of the scrap tires. TDF is considered "energy recovery", not recycling. Industries like cement plants and pulp & paper mills burn the tires as an alternative energy source. Some plants burn whole tires while others require course shredding. In all cases the plants are paid a tipping fee which helps the economics of handling and burning scrap tires. The continued success of this disposal method depends upon several critical issues; the cost of conventional fuels, the market for the products being produced by the plants and the EPA regulatons that permit the emmissions. For these reasons, the RMA and others are constantly seeking sustainable products that will continue to consume scrap tires.
Opportunity
Skidmark Geomembrane™ is a ground tire rubber product and the market potential is nearly unlimited. When the liner requires replacement it is possible to clean, re-grind and blend into new liner compound.