"Nearly 90% of tires that are replaced and thrown away every year are put to a new, productive use," say Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) officials.
The RMA has published its ninth report on scrap tire markets. "Scrap tire management in the U.S. is a huge environmental success story," says RMA Vice President Michael Blumenthal.
In 2007, according to the RMA, 89.3% of scrap tires generated in the U.S. were consumed in end-use markets. In 1990, only 11% of tires were consumed.
"Scrap tires were consumed by a variety of scrap tire markets, including tire-derived fuel, civil engineering and ground rubber applications."
At the end of 2007, about 128 million scrap tires remained in stockpiles in the U.S., a reduction of more than 87% since 1990.
