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

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #435: July 31, 2006
Where Do Scrapped Tires Go?

About 80% of the 290 million tires that were scrapped in 2003 were used in end-use markets instead of going to a landfill or other unknown disposal. Forty-four percent of the scrap tires were used as tire-derived fuel, mainly in the industrial sector. The civil engineering category includes tire shreds used in road construction and other construction uses. Ground rubber applications include playground and other sports surfacing.

U.S. Scrap Tire Disposition, 2003
Graph showing the disposition of scrap tire in 2003 with 80% of the 290 million scrap tires used in end-use markets such as tire-derived fuel or ground rubber used to make playground equipment and other sports surfacing. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

U.S. Scrap Tire Disposition, 2003
  Share of Total Tires Scrapped
Tire-Derived Fuel 44.7%
Civil Engineering 19.4%
Unknown 10.3%
Ground Rubber 9.7%
Landfill 9.3%
Export 3.1%
Cut/Punched/Stamped 2.0%
Misc. Agriculture 1.7%
Electric Arc Furnaces 0.2%
Total Tires Scrapped 290 million

Source:Rubber Manufacturers Association, U.S. Scrap Tire Markets, 2003 Edition, July 2004, Figure 2.0.

 

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