Scrap tires: Management and economics

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1993)119:6(1217)· OSTI ID:5657411

Eldin, N N ^[1]; Piekarski, J A ^[2]

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1. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering
2. PAICE Association, Milwaukee, WI (United States)

This paper provides a description of tire recycling conditions in the state of Wisconsin, a summary of the status of legislation affecting tire disposal in the US, and a list of the major scrap-tire applications. The paper also provides an evaluation of the economics of the scrap-tire processing industry. The economics of the entire disposal cycle is examined in five steps, each addressed as a separate investment scenario. First, the economics of a licensed collection site is examined. Second, the economics of adding a shredding operation to the collection site (in order to free some of the escrow money held by the state) is considered. Third, the hauling of the shredded tires to a landfill (in order to recover the rest of the escrow and eliminate storage liability) is discussed. Fourth, the economics of hauling the shredded tires to an end user, eliminating landfill fees, is evaluated. Fifth, the ideal scenario of hauling of shredded tires to a buyer is examined. Under the assumptions used, the tire-shredding industry can yield a rewarding return on investment. However, profitability of the investment is particularly sensitive to the amount of escrow required by the regulatory authorities. It is suggested that regulatory authorities reexamine the amount and distribution of escrow to encourage tire processors in completing the recycling process by finding an end user for the recycled materials.

• OSTI ID: 5657411
• Journal Information: Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Engineering (New York); (United States) Vol. 119:6; ISSN 0733-9372; ISSN JOEEDU
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECONOMICS
INVESTMENT
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
RECYCLING
TIRES
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WISCONSIN