USTMA calls for increased scrap tire recovery rate

Greenville, South Carolina – The US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is calling on stakeholders across the tire-supply chain, as well as government and academia, to be more engaged in efforts to increase the rate of recycling of scrap tires.

"To reach our goal of 100% scrap tires entering sustainable end-use markets, we need to continue to work with our state, industry and academic partners to grow existing markets and develop new ones," said USTMA president and CEO Anne Forristall Luke at USTMA's Scrap Tire Recycling Conference in Greenville.

According to Luke, of the estimated 250 million scrap tires generated annually in the US, 81% is reused, significantly up from 11% recorded 30 years ago.

"We have come a long way, but we have more work to do," she said. "Building effective partnerships, talking about important issues, and driving effective solutions is our charge."

Among the end-uses cited by the USTMA are rubber-modified asphalt, tire-derived fuel, moulded and extruded automotive products, micronised rubber powder and reclaimed carbon black.