U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #341: October 11, 2004
Tire Recycling

In 2001, the United States generated 281 million scrap tires. Nearly 78% of those scrap tires were reused, recycled, or recovered; that is a dramatic change from 1990, when only 11% of the scrap tires were reused, recycled, or recovered. New ways to use tires that are no longer needed on vehicles have been developed over the last 10–15 years, and the number of uses continues to grow. Scrap tires are used as fuel for cement kilns, pulp and paper mills, and boilers. Some tires are ground into small pieces and used as an asphalt modifier or as a ground cover on children's playgrounds. To learn more about the uses of scrap tires, visit the U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association web site.

Share of U.S. Scrap Tires that Are Reused, Recycled, or Recovered
Graph showing the percentage of U.S. scrap tires that were reused, recycled, or recovered for the years 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2001.

Supporting Information

Share of U.S. Scrap Tires that Are Reused, Recycled, or Recovered
1990 11.0%
1992 27.0%
1994 54.7%
1996 62.1%
1998 65.7%
2001 77.6%

Source: U.S. Rubber Manufacturers Association, U.S. Scrap Tire Markets 2001.

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