Number of scrap tires generated annually (1996): 

266 million

Approximate weight of these scrap tires: 3.3 million tons

Tires as percent of total municipal solid waste (1995): 1.8%

Number of scrap tires in stock piles: 800 million

Number of scrap tires going to a market (1996): 202 million

Number of scrap tire processing facilities: 498

Number of scrap tires used for fuel (1996): 152.5 million

Number of facilities using tire-derived fuel (1996): 102

Scrap tires used in civil engineering applications (1996): 10 million

Number of scrap tires exported (1996): 15 million

Scrap tires processed into ground rubber (1996): 12.5 million

Scrap tires punched/stamped into new products (1996): 8 million

Number of scrap tires used in a pyrolysis process (1996): 0

Number of states with scrap tires legislation/regulations: 48

Btu's per pound of scrap tire rubber: 15,000

Average weight of a passenger car scrap tire: 20 pounds

Number of states that ban whole tires from landfills: 35

Number of states that ban all scrap tires from landfills: 8

Number of states with no landfill restrictions: 6

Number of states with a scrap tire fee: 34

States that allow monofills: 4

Percentage of scrap tires that are passenger car tires: 84

Percentage of scrap tires that are from light and heavy trucks: 15

Heavy equipment, aircraft and off-road tires: 1

Range of weight for truck tires: 40 pounds to 10,000 pounds

Amount of steel in a steel belted radial passenger car tires: 2.5 pounds

Oil (equivalency) in a passenger car tire: 7 gallons

Best ways to reduce the number of scrap tires generated:

1. purchase longer-tread life tires 
2. rotate tires every 4,000 miles 
3. check for/inflate tires to recommended air pressure levels twice a month 
4. balance tires when rotating them 

Number of passenger car tires to equal one ton: 100

Specific gravity of tire rubber: 1.15

Number of polymers (rubber) used in tire construction: 3-4

Number of new products that contain recycled tire rubber: 110 and counting

Fastest growing new markets: playground cover, soil amendments, flooring/matting