Driving New Scrap Tire Markets through Innovation

Innovation to drive new and improved scrap tire markets is the key theme for the 7th Scrap to Profit Conference. This year’s event, held in Nashville, Tenn., features the latest trends and innovations in the use of end of life tires, and is hosted by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) and the Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (STREF).

“We work in partnership with legislators, regulators, recyclers and inventors to help find ways to put old, discarded tires to new uses,” said Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO. “Our industry works hard to continually evaluate materials and processes to make tires as sustainable as possible. And, we strive to increase knowledge and understanding of what it takes to reuse and recycle the products our members create.”

“Attendees will hear about developments in rubber modified asphalt from state officials and from key market innovators,” said John Sheerin, USTMA Director, End of Life Tire Programs. “Presentations also will feature potential market expansion in tire derived fuel, latest advances in pyrolysis, molded and extruded products innovations and civil engineering applications.”

Efforts to improve scrap tire reuse and recycling have been very successful since 1990. Nearly 90% of annually generated scrap tires are consumed in an end use market. Over the same period, stockpiles of scrap tires declined by 93% from 1 billion tires in 1990 to fewer than 70 million in 2015.

“We look forward to working with all stakeholders to expand markets and opportunity for the end-of-life tire industry and ultimately reaching 100% beneficial use of all end of life tires,” Luke said. “The commitment, hard work and willingness to share experiences will help us all improve upon a fantastic recycling success story.”