EPA Allows Scrap Tires to Be Used for Fuel

Scrap Tires

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency handed down a 20-year rulemaking decision that will preserve scrap tire markets allowing for the continued use of scrap tires as a derived fuel source. The decision was very pleasing to the Rubber Manufacturers Association which had lobbied for the decision and is the national trade association for tire manufacturers in the U.S. 

The rule will continue to allow industries like paper mills, electric companies, and cement kilns to take scrap tires, that are removed from vehicles, to be used as fuel by an industrial facility. The EPA had wanted to change the rule to require the all metal be removed from the tires before being used for fuel, citing environmental concerns.

The RMA was able to show the EPA that the removal of the metal would require so much additional energy that, not only would it negate any energy derived from tire burning energy plants, it would also cause excess carbon emissions to be produced thus off-setting any benefits of the potential change.

“EPA clearly listened to the arguments advocated by RMA and other key stakeholders to deliver a rule that ensures continued improvement in scrap tire management efforts in the U.S.,” said Charles A. Cannon, RMA president and CEO.  “While we are still analyzing several aspects of this final rule, the big picture is that this is a victory for the environment and for RMA’s scrap tire advocacy efforts.”

In 1990, the RMA convinced the EPA to allow the use of the tires for a fuel source. Since that time, the stockpile of scrap tires in the U.S. has dropped from about one billion to fewer than 100 million. Currently, about half of the tires thrown away each year are being used as a derived fuel source.