ABUNDANCE OF WASTE TIRES
Every year, the United State produces at least a total of 290 million scrap tires nationwide. Among them, there are over 5 million in Alabama, and another 5 million are brought into Alabama from its surrounding states such as Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Luisiana which brings the total number of scrap tires coming into Alabama annually to over 10 million. Alabama is still one of a few states in the US that accepts out of state scrap tires and will allow the whole tires being buried in the landfills. In the past two decades, the State and its environmental agency – ADEM has increased efforts to implement the scrap tires recycling program to better utilize them, and crack down the illegal dumps statewide to protect the environment.
Current
utilization
There are several ways to use recycled tires in Alabama.
Tire-Derived Fuel:
One of the most common ways to use recycled tires in Alabama is as tire-derived fuel (TDF). TDF is produced by shredding tires into small pieces and using them as fuel in various industries, such as cement kilns, paper mills. TDF has proven to be an effective alternative to fossil fuels, reducing their consumption and lowering the carbon footprint.
Civil Engineering Applications:
Another way to utilize recycled tires in Alabama is by using them in civil engineering projects, such as retaining walls, embankments, and road construction. Shredded tires can be used as a lightweight fill material and drainage material in landfill construction. These applications provide a sustainable solution to landfill management, as well as reducing the cost of construction materials.
Rubberized Asphalt:
Rubberized asphalt is another popular application of recycled tires in Alabama. It involves grinding tires into small particles and adding them to asphalt mixtures, creating a long-lasting, durable road surface. The use of rubberized asphalt not only provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional asphalt but also improves road noise reduction, making it a popular choice for many highway departments in Alabama.
Playground Surfaces:
Recycled tires can also be used as a cushioning material in playground surfaces. This provides a safer and more shock-absorbent surface for children to play on. The use of recycled tires in playground surfaces is not only cost-effective but also helps to keep tires out of landfills.
Athletic Surfaces:
Recycled tires can also be used as a base material for athletic surfaces, such as running tracks and artificial turf fields. The use of recycled tires in athletic surfaces provides a more durable and shock-absorbent surface for athletes to train and compete on. This application not only promotes sustainability but also improves the quality of athletic surfaces.
THE PROMISING RECOVERED CARBON BLACK MARKET
The recovered carbon black market is experiencing healthy growth. According to forecasts from Business Wire in 2021, it is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11 percent, reaching a value of US$80 billion by 2028. Although estimates of the global market size vary, the trend is promising, with an increasing number of industries traditionally using virgin carbon black grades turning to recovered carbon black.
The demand is primarily driven by the tire manufacturing sector, which accounts for about 70 percent of the market, followed by other industries such as rubber production for automotive, mechanical, construction, and coatings industries. The products range from rubber sheets, seals, and roofing materials to gaskets, hoses, and conveyor belts, among others.
Globally, the USA is the largest consumer of recovered carbon black, followed by Europe, the second-largest consumer, and the Asia-Pacific region, the third-largest market.
