USTMA Reports Progress in Tire Recycling

Continued industry collaboration driving circularity

The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association’s (USTMA) 2023 End-of-Life Tire Management Report shows 79 percent of end-of-life tires (ELT) are being consumed by end-use markets.

“This suggests positive momentum in tire recycling and reflects a 10.5 increase in overall utilization, reinforcing that end-of-life tires remain one of the most recycled and reclaimed consumer products, outpacing materials like metal, glass, aluminum, plastic, and paper,” John Sheerin said in an October 24 webinar.

“We’ve made great progress as an industry—tires have one of the highest recycling rates in the world, but we have more work to do to keep every tire out of landfills,” Thomas Womble, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, the largest tire recycler in North America, said in support of the report. “We are committed to continuing to invest in new, sustainable end-markets for all the tires we collect and forging expanded partnerships with tire manufacturers and retailers.”

“We want to thank the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association for all of their hard work on this report and their work in finding sustainable homes for end-of-life tires,” he said.

USTMA said collaborative efforts across the tire recycling value chain must continue tire stockpiles and create sustainable, circular markets for end-of-life tires.

“USTMA’s primary goal is to recycle 100 percent of end-of-life tires into circular, sustainable markets. Significant work remains, and to achieve full circularity, we must continue to collaborate with manufacturers, recyclers, policymakers, NGOs, and environmental groups to develop and expand the markets for tire recycling and reclaiming.” Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of USTMA, said.

Looking at the report findings, tire-derived fuel (tdf) remained a strong market with 33 percent of scrap tires generated in 2023 being consumed as an alternative fuel in cement kilns, pulp and paper mills and electric utilities.

Ground rubber has become the second largest market for end-of-life tires, increasing 29 percent since 2019 and consuming about 28 percent of end-of-life tires in 2023. Ground rubber is used in a range of products and applications, reflecting the growing demand for sustainable materials in infrastructure and everyday products.

Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA), a key use of ground rubber, is showing significant growth. Since 2021, RMA has consumed 165,000 tons of ELTs, representing a 17 percent increase. USTMA continues to advocate for federal funding to further scale RMA as part of infrastructure development projects.

Despite the significant achievements, approximately 48 million end-of-life tires remain in stockpiles. USTMA is engaging all stakeholders in the value chain to drive sustainable practices and eliminate these stockpiles. The Tire Recycling Foundation (TRF), a joint initiative of USTMA and the Tire Industry Association, aims to provide critical support by educating, networking, and collaborating with key players in the recycling ecosystem.

“We’ve made considerable progress, but we’re not done yet,” Luke said. “The industry, policymakers, and recyclers must continue to push forward, advocate for market expansion, and invest in sustainable recycling technologies that can help drive a future where 100 percent of tires are recycled and reclaimed into sustainable, circular end-use markets.”

In light of the findings from the report, USTMA and its partners will continue to focus on four key growth areas.

Building on the 2021 Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA) State of Knowledge Report, USTMA will release a Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) State of Knowledge Report later this year, offering data-driven insights to support market TDA growth and innovation in infrastructure and construction. Also, USTMA plans to release an update of the 2021 RMA State of Knowledge Report in early 2025 further driving market growth.

USTMA will continue to strengthen partnerships and collaboration among all stakeholders—manufacturers, recyclers, government agencies, and environmental groups—through initiatives like the Tire Recycling Conference and a series of Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA) workshops, fostering knowledge sharing and advancing tire recycling solutions across industries.

To scale TDA and RMA markets, USTMA aims to maximize opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) reinforcing the critical role of end-use tires in sustainable U.S. infrastructure.

USTMA continues to advocate for robust state programs that effectively manage end-of-life tires and support sustainable recycling practices, driving innovation and addressing tire stockpile reduction.

To view the full report, visit: www.ustires.org/2023-elt-tire-report-page

© Scrap Tire News, November 2024