Increasing the Recycled Content in New Tires
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Contractor’s Report to the Board Increasing the Recycled Content in New Tires May 2004 Produced under contract by: Nevada Automotive Test Center Carson City, Nevada Zero Waste—You Make It Happen! S TATE OF C ALIFORNIA Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor Terry Tamminen Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency • INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD Linda Moulton-Patterson Rosario Marin Rosalie Mulé Board Chair Board Member Board Member Michael Paparian Cheryl Peace Carl Washington Board Member Board Member Board Member • Mark Leary Executive Director For additional copies of this publication, contact: Integrated Waste Management Board Public Affairs Office, Publications Clearinghouse (MS–6) 1001 I Street P.O. Box 4025 Sacramento, CA 95812-4025 www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Publications/ 1-800-CA-WASTE (California only) or (916) 341-6306 Publication #622-04-001 Printed on recycled paper containing a minimum of 30 percent postconsumer fibers. Copyright © 2004 by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. All rights reserved. This publication, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Prepared as part of IWM-CO138 ($228,770), includes other services. The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in access to its programs. CIWMB publications are available in accessible formats upon request by calling the Public Affairs Office at (916) 341-6300. Persons with hearing impairments can reach the CIWMB through the California Relay Service, 1-800-735-2929. The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, Flex Your Power and visit www.fypower.com/. Disclaimer: This report to the Board was produced under contract by the Nevada Automotive Test Center. The statements and conclusions contained in this report are those of the contractor and not necessarily those of the California Integrated Waste Management Board, its employees, or the State of California and should not be cited or quoted as official Board policy or direction. The State makes no warranty, expressed or implied, and assumes no liability for the information contained in the succeeding text. Any mention of commercial products or processes, or businesses, shall not be construed as an endorsement by the Board or Nevada Automotive Test Center of such products, processes, or businesses. Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4 3.0 Background ............................................................................................................. 5 4.0 Literature Review .................................................................................................... 8 4.1 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 8 4.2 Studies to Increase the Recycled Content of New Tires.............................................. 8 4.2.1 Processing Methods ...................................................................................... 9 4.2.2 Consumer Behavior That Affects the Purchase of New Tires With Increased Recycled Content ............................................................... 16 4.2.3 Factors Affecting Both the Costs and Benefits of Increasing the Recycled Content in New Tires ............................................................. 17 4.2.4 Trade-Offs and Variables Such as Cost and Performance When Tires Are Manufactured With an Increase in Recycled Content.................. 18 4.2.5 Tire Manufacturers and Their Locations Worldwide and Manufacturers Who Have Used Recycled Content in Tires ................................................ 20 4.2.6 Comparison of the Use and Amount of Crumb Rubber From Waste Tires in Bias Ply Tires Versus the Use and Amount of Crumb Rubber From Waste Tires in Radial Tires ....................................... 21 4.2.7 Trends and Geographical Patterns in the Use and Amounts of Crumb Rubber in Types of Tires Produced............................................................. 22 5.0 Cost-Benefit Analysis on Increasing the Recycled Content in New Tires....... 24 5.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................... 24 5.2 Technology for Increasing the Recycled Content in New Tires ................................. 26 5.3 Technology for Producing Crumb Rubber to Meet New Specifications for Tire Manufacturers............................................................................................................. 33 5.4 Potential Incentives to Manufacturers, Retailers, and Customers ............................. 34 5.4.1 Economic Feasibility .................................................................................... 35 6.0 Barriers to Increasing Recycled Content in New Tires ..................................... 39 6.1 Industry Roadblocks and Technology Innovations..................................................... 39 7.0 Recommendations................................................................................................ 43 8.0 Future Scopes of Work......................................................................................... 45 8.1 Objectives................................................................................................................... 45 8.2 Scope of Work I .......................................................................................................... 45 8.3 Scope of Work II ......................................................................................................... 45 8.4 Scope of Work III ........................................................................................................ 46 9.0 Source Reference Notes ...................................................................................... 47 Appendix A: Tire Manufacturers and Their Locations Worldwide .......................... 52 Appendix B: Frequently Used Abbreviations............................................................. 88 Appendix C: Contacts................................................................................................... 89 1 1.0 Executive Summary The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) estimated that 33.5 million waste tires were generated in California in 2002, and nearly 75 percent were diverted from disposal through source reduction and recycling efforts [1]. Given the large number of waste tires generated in 2002, the 25 percent not diverted from disposal (approximately 8.4 million waste tires) could likely have a negative impact on the environment if the diversion rate stays approximately the same in subsequent years. In an effort to further reduce the number of waste tires requiring disposal, the tire industry and government agencies have considered and/or implemented several alternatives. Increasing the recycled content in new tires by adding waste tire rubber is one of the diversion alternatives being considered. At its March 2001 meeting, the Board approved its Five-Year Plan for the Waste Tire Management Program (Five-Year Plan for the Waste Tire Recycling Management Program: Fiscal Years 03/04—-07/08, CIWMB publication #620-03-007). The Five-Year Plan allocated funds to research increasing the recycled content in new tires. This report examines the potential for increasing recycled content, addressing technology and market issues, what barriers exist, and what has been done to date on this subject. Conducting research on this recycling alternative requires an integrated approach with a complete understanding of tire design, performance, safety, and consumer expectations. Extensive literature reviews and discussions with tire manufacturers and tire recyclers were conducted to better assess the various aspects of increasing recycled content in new tires. Throughout the literature and information review process, it became apparent that preconsumer factory excess, which meets the manufacturers’ quality control standards, was more often used in the production of new tires than fine crumb rubber from waste tires, particularly in critical components of the tire. The distinction between when excess recyclable material from factory processes was used and when recycled content material from waste tires was used, was often blurred. This led to confusion about the actual amount of recycled content in new tires. According to the Scrap Tire Management Council (STMC), [4, p. 20/13, p. 3], over the past 10 years, the recycled content in new tires has increased from 0.5 percent to 5 percent by weight. In some cases, incorporating either recycled content or factory excess of up to 10 to 15 percent in new tires was reported as technically feasible, without adversely affecting the performance characteristics of tires. Previously quoted values of 15 to 25 percent recycled content being feasible without affecting performance could not be verified at the time this report was written. Furthermore, the data indicated that once recycled content reached certain levels, the lifespan of a new tire could be adversely affected. Moreover, in a study conducted by Continental Tire North America (CTNA) for the North Carolina Division of