SCRAP TIRE MARKET
DEVELOPMENT
BY
TERRY GRAY
TAG RESOURCE RECOVERY
TIRE WORKSHOP 2013
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
APRIL 3, 2013
PERSPECTIVE




FIRST PROGRAM IN MINNESOTA IN 1984
MANY U.S. STATES STILL DON’T HAVE
SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS
<1% UTILIZED IN 1984, BUT ABOUT 80%
IN 2011
MEXICO CAN ACCELERATE ITS GROWTH
BASED ON GOOD AND BAD HISTORICAL
EXPERIENCES
US SCRAP TIRE MARKET
TRENDS: 2005-2011
MAJOR APPLICATIONS
ENERGY

CEMENT KILNS

POWER GENERATION

PAPER MILLS

DEDICATED FACILITIES

PYROLYSIS/GASIFICATION
U.S. TIRE-DERIVED FUEL
MARKET TRENDS: 2005-2011
U.S. TIRE-DERIVED FUEL
MARKETS 2011
CEMENT KILNS

ENVIRONMENTALLY EXCELLENT
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ECONOMICALLY ATTRACTIVE

QUICKLY DEVELOPED
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GENERALLY WHOLE TIRES, SOME TDF

NEEDS CONSISTENT SOURCE

PROGRAM CORNERSTONE
MODERN CEMENT FACILITY
CEMENT KILN
MANUAL FEED SYSTEM
AIR LOCK
INTO KILN
RAPID COMBUSTION
POWER AND PAPER
INDUSTRIES


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SPECIFIC BOILER TYPES INCLUDE
CYCLONE, STOKER-FIRED, CFB
DISPLACES COAL OR OTHER SOLID
FUEL
USES NOMINAL 1” OR 2” TDF, BEAD
WIRE REMOVED
COMPARATIVE TDF
PRODUCTION ECONOMICS
(CHIP SIZE VS TIRES/YR)
CHIP
SIZE
500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000
2.0”
+69%
-11%
-42%
1.5”
+82%
BASIS
-14%
1.0”
+94%
+35%
0%
PYROLYSIS

HISTORICALLY UNSUCCESSFUL
• NO COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL
SYSTEMS IN NORTH AMERICA
• OVER $500 MILLION EXPENDED
• MAJOR COMPANIES AND SMALL
PROMOTERS
CRITICAL ISSUES

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
• UNRELIABLE OPERATION
• EXPLOSIONS/FIRES
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES



AIR
CHAR DISPOSAL
ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
• GAS UTILIZATION
• OIL ONLY BLENDSTOCK
• CHAR MARKET
CIVIL ENGINEERING

LIGHTWEIGHT FILL

DRAINAGE AGGREGATE

WHOLE TIRES IN RETAINING WALL
CONSTRUCTION
Dixon Landing Interchange



PROBLEM: Embankment Constructed
on Bay Mud
SOLUTION: Use TDA for the core of
the embankment
CHEAPEST SOLUTION: Caltrans
saved $470,000
Typical Cross Section
LOW PERMEABILITY SOIL COVER
TWO TIRE SHRED LAYERS
EACH LAYER UP TO 10 FT THICK
COMPRESSIBLE BAY MUD
Spread with bulldozer
Rt. 91 Wall in Riverside, CA


Freeway widening
Objective: show that reduced earth
pressures can reduce overall wall
construction costs

Length: 260 ft

Tires used: 75,000 PTE
Rt. 91 wall cross section
Half of TDA in Place
Potential Future Savings for Walls



Lower pressure on wall  less
rebar
Potential reduction = 28 tons/100
ft
Potential cost savings =
$13,000/100 ft
RETAINING WALLS



WHOLE TIRES MECHANICALLY
JOINED TO STABILIZE OR RETAIN
SLOPE
NOT BROADLY APPLIED IN US DUE
TO LABOR COSTS
MINIMAL CAPITAL EXPENSE FOR
SMALL VOLUMES
CRUMB RUBBER
APPLICATIONS

SPORTS SURFACES

MOLDED PRODUCTS

RUBBER-MODIFIED ASPHALT

DECORATIVE MULCH
CRUMB RUBBER
CHARACTERISTICS

SLOW OVERALL MARKET GROWTH

HIGH CAPITAL

HIGH MAINTENANCE

MARKET CHALLENGES
RURAL CONSIDERATIONS
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VOLUME SENSITIVITY
REGIONAL PLANS, COLLECTION
CENTERS OR PROCESSING
FACILITIES
MOBILE PROCESSING
CAREFULLY EVALUATE BALE
APPLICATIONS BEFORE STARTING
SUGGESTIONS



FOCUS ON ENERGY (ESPECIALLY
CEMENT KILNS) INITIALLY
DEVELOP CE DESIGN EXPERIENCES
AND PRACTICES
BEGIN TO ENCOURAGE CRUMB
MARKETS, BUT AVOID PREMATURE
OVER-COMMITMENT
PROCESSING EQUIPMENT



APPLICATIONS RANGE FROM WHOLE
TIRES TO FINE POWDER
SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO
PRODUCE EACH SIZE PRODUCT
KNOW MARKET BEFORE
PURCHASING EQUIPMENT
KEYS TO SUCCESS

LEARN FROM OTHERS’ SUCCESS AND
FAILURE

EVALUATE BEFORE CHARGING

CHALLENGE “MAGIC” PROPOSALS

RECOGNIZE LOCAL MARKET VARIATIONS

RECOGNIZE REALITY
CONTACT INFORMATION
TERRY GRAY
TAG RESOURCE RECOVERY
EMAIL: tagray@flash.net
PHONE: (281) 463-7552