U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #763: January 21, 2013
Eighty-four Percent of Scrapped Tires Are Recycled
There were 263 million tires scrapped in 2009 (latest available data) which amounts to more than 4.7 million tons of waste. Fortunately, 84% of that waste was recycled. Most of the recycled tires were used to make fuel for industries such as pulp and paper mills, cement kilns, and electric utilities. Ground rubber, which is used for sports surfacing, asphalt, playgrounds, and other molded products, is the second largest use of recycled tires.
U.S. Scrap Tire Uses, 2009
Supporting Information
U.S. Scrap Tire Uses, 2009
| Market |
Tons (Thousands) |
| Tire-derived Fuel |
2,084.8 |
| Ground Rubber |
1,354.2 |
| Civil Engineering |
284.9 |
| Reclamation Projects |
130.0 |
| Exported |
102.1 |
| Baled Tires/Marketable |
27.8 |
| Other Uses |
36.1 |
| Total Recycled |
4,019.9 |
| Baled Tires/No-market |
15.6 |
| Not Properly Disposed |
162.0 |
| Land Disposed |
594.0 |
| Total Not Recycled |
771.6 |
| Total Scrap Tires |
4,791.5 |
Note: Other Uses include electric arc furnace, agricultural, and punched/stamped.
Source: Rubber Manufacturers Association. |
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