BECC PROJECT FACT SHEET
Information in this block will be completed by BECC:
Project Title: Waste Tire Reuse Technology for Heavy Duty Road Bed Construction Applications
Landfill Brownsville, Texas
Project Description: This project will provide a heavy duty tire bale road construction demonstration
with enhanced compaction and vibration technology in addition to the fact that the use of tire bales as fill
material for roads in difficult soil areas should improve long term performance. The final outcome of this
project will be used to demonstrate and promote the utility and safe application of waste tire bales in
highway construction projects.
Project Goal and Objectives: To assist rural communities to build capacity for sustainable waste
management, including the development of scrap tire management and disposal plans for long term
solutions of the regional scrap tire problem in rural communities of the border region, and hence reduce
land contamination.
Project (Geographic) Location:
City of Brownsville, Texas
Project Investigator and POC: Dr. Kim Jones, Texas A&M University Kingsville
Grant Amount Awarded: $15,000
The following required information will be provided by the Project Sponsor:
1. Provide the estimated population benefited by the project and explain how they will benefit:
The Lower Rio Grande Valley regional population has reached a level of 1,000,000. This fast
growing region must have sustainable options for disposal of waste tires other than occupying
valuable landfill space which is rapidly diminishing. This project can benefit this population by
providing alternative technology and beneficial use options for waste tire disposal.
2. Indicate the date in which the project was started and the date it was completed. Project
start date is the actual start of project performance. Completion date is the date in which the
final project report is completed. If the project exceeded the time frames specified in the
Technical Assistance Agreement please explain the cause for the delays.
Start date:
October 1, 2012
Completion date:
December 20, 2012
Explain cause for delays:
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3. Summaries the project findings and accomplishments (include expected and completed
outcomes).
The data obtained in this study provides some insight into the deformation behavior of waste
tire bales under different loadings in field scale road construction conditions. The data and
analysis generated in this study should be useful in further developing specific
recommendations and guidelines on the use of tire bales for engineering applications.
This project also demonstrates a useful and potentially economical method for waste tire
disposal with use as fill material in the construction of medium vehicular weight roads.
Finally this demonstration project safely disposed of 125 tire bales which is approximately
12,500 waste tires buried, thus reducing land contamination while preserving valuable landfill
space available. By the time the entire proposed road section is built with these tires, about 500
bales (50,000 waste tires) will have been disposed of in the construction at this one location in
Brownsville.
4. Identify specific follow-up activities that you recommend to encourage project sustainability
and/or project continuity.
While the tire bale road demonstrated adequate performance for light duty vehicular service,
additional vibration and re-compaction operations will be needed to provide more satisfactory
deflection results and quality assurance for service for heavier vehicular traffic. Additional
support is being sought to complete a QAPP and data collection for roadbed deformation testing
for heavy vehicle service.
5. Identify the stakeholders that participated in project completion:
The City of Brownsville landfill and public works staff helped to support and implement this
project. The Lower Rio Grande Valley Stormwater Task Force of 17 cities has been kept abreast
of project progress and results. The Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Partnership made
up of stakeholder municipal governments, agencies, landowners, educators, and water resource
managers, has also been informed about project goals and achievements.
6. Specify the estimated total cost for project completion and any leverage amounts contributed
by your organization or by other sources (i.e. in-kind, stakeholder contributions, and other
matching funds). Identify the sources of the contributions and the amounts provided by each.
Dr. Jones (TAMUK) provided approximately two weeks worth of time and effort for this project
design and implementation. The City of Brownsville landfill and public works departments
provided an estimated $5,000 worth of materials and time and effort to this project.
7. Please provide at least 5 photos that highlight the benefits and/or the accomplishments of the
project. The photos will be used to promote the success of your project. See attached pages.
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Fig 1. Schematic of tire bale road construction detail showing bale and geotextile placement
and shoulder build out.
Fig 2. Photo of standard tire bale compacted with approximately 100 whole waste tires.
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