Proper tire maintenance includes retaining proper tire pressure, as well as correct wheel balance and alignment, conducting rotation schedules and avoiding excessive acceleration and braking. Retreading tires for reuse requires only one-third of the crude oil necessary to make a new tire. Scrap tires can be chopped, ground, or powdered for use in the manufacture of floor mats, adhesives, gaskets, shoe soles, electrical insulators, asphalt and numerous other products. Scrap tires (whole or shredded) are used as fuel in facilities such as cement kilns, pulp and paper mills, electric utilities, waste-to-energy plants and industrial boilers. Other industries that use scrap tires include construction, landscaping, farming, marine, and playground equipment manufacturers.

Except for proper maintenance and retreading, the recycling methods above are conducted off-site by specialized scrap tire recycling facilities. Many of these facilities will accept whole or shredded scrap tires to be recycled in any combination of these methods. Scrap tire generators could recoup some money if they recycle scrap tires directly through these facilities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that a combination of these recycling alternatives will reduce the amount of scrap tires in the landfill by approximately 15 percent.

A facility will use more electricity if it purchases and operates an on-site tire shredder. A tire shredder reduces the volume of scrap tires to make the tires more desirable as an end product and to reduce transportation costs. Under EO 12902, facilities are required to reduce energy consumption. This equipment also may increase a facility's need for an air permit under 40 CFR 70 and 71.

The compliance benefits listed here are only meant to be used as a general guideline and are not meant to be strictly interpreted. Actual compliance benefits will vary depending on the factors involved, e.g. the amount of workload involved.

• Saves energy;
• Meets states' regulations pertaining to scrap tire management;
• Reduces air and water pollution risks; and
• Conserves landfill space.

• Stockpiled tires may provide a breeding ground for rodents and mosquitoes.
• Stockpiled tires may pose a fire hazard from lightning or spontaneous combustion.

Assumptions:

• Approximately 5,000 scrap tires are generated each year per installation.
• Each tire is approximately 50 pounds.
• Cost to dispose of waste in municipal landfill: $0.10 per pound.
• Transportation fee for transporting waste to municipal landfill: $75 per trip.
• Fifty trips per year are made to the municipal landfill to dispose of scrap tires.
• Cost of hauling: $2.00 per tire. Depending on the location of the generator or the state laws, this fee can vary. Sometimes the scrap tire facilities will haul used tires free of charge. Some facilities are willing to pay generators up to $0.05 per pound for scrap tires.
• For this analysis, assume that a quarter of the total scrap tires generated were hauled by facilities willing to pay, that another quarter was hauled at no cost, and that the generator paid for the remainder to be hauled.
• Equipment purchase is not necessary.

Economic Analysis Summary

Annual Savings for Recycling: $26,875
Capital Cost for Diversion Equipment/Process: $0
Payback Period for Investment in Equipment/Process: Immediate

Click Here to view an Active Spreadsheet for this Economic Analysis and Enter Your Own Values.