Scrap tire recycling in Minnesota

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · BioCycle; (USA)

OSTI ID:6658158

The author discusses the problems associated with scrap tires. For example, surface storing of scrap tires poses a fire hazard and the rainwater trapped in the tire casings is an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Use as a fuel for energy production is unattractive as long as oil retails at its present low price. Past reclamation processes have not met expectations. Legislation alone is not the answer, because scrap tires cannot be regulated out of existence. However, the Minnesota state legislature has come up with an approach that seems to be successful. It has passed the Waste Tire Act, which not only formulates regulations but also provides funding for research and development. Thus, it has established a tire disposal fund for financing construction costs of tire recycling facilities. One of the outcomes was the construction of the St. Louis county Waste Tire Recycling Facility. Through a leasing arrangement with Minneapolis-based Rubber Elastomerics, Inc. (RRE), construction costs financed by the tire disposal fund eventually will be repaid by RRE to the fund. The arrangement is described in detail. By a process also described, RRE produces a product that can be used in thermoset and in thermoplastic compounds. The user can incorporate between 50 percent and 85 percent of the recycled product into a rubber or plastic compound without significantly affecting the physical properties of the compound.

• OSTI ID: 6658158
• Journal Information: BioCycle; (USA), Journal Name: BioCycle; (USA) Vol. 30:10; ISSN BCYCD; ISSN 0276-5055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
COST
ELASTOMERS
FEDERAL REGION V
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LEGISLATION
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASTICS
POLYMERS
RECYCLING
RUBBERS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
TIRES
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS