A report from the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (UTSMA) says nearly 76% of scrap tires were recycled in products like rubber-modified asphalt, landscaping mulch and others during 2019, down from 96% just six years prior.
“Three decades after we successfully eliminated 94% of the over one-billion scrap tires stockpiled around the country, this report reveals that efforts to find and develop new uses for scrap tires have stalled,” says Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of USTMA.
“We must take immediate steps to grow new and existing markets to recycle 100% of scrap tires. This not only protects our health and the environment. It drives innovation and jobs.”
The report found that 56 million scrap tires remain in stockpiles, mostly in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
USTMA and its members work closely with state regulators, recyclers and other stakeholders to manage scrap tires and develop recycle and reuse markets.
The association is urging state and federal regulators to “grow scrap tire reuse and recycle markets,” among other actions, and is recommending “new public and private sector investments” to research the lifecycle impact of scrap tires in different end-use markets and “create a national portal for states to share data.”
