Recycled Rubber Products a Cost Effective Alternative

Recycling leads to a healthier planet, in which we can live and breathe freely, as well as a place where our children can live in a clean environment. The environment, the earth, is our home. At Rubber-Cal we believe in a healthier, greener America and planet Earth.

RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) estimates that about 290 million scrap tires were generated in the U.S. in 2003. Scrap tires were consumed by a variety of markets, the majority of markets include tire-derived fuel, ground rubber and civil engineering applications. Of note is a new market in which U.S. tires were incorporated; into electric arc furnaces in the production of high-carbon steel. The carbon and steel are used from the contents of scrap tires.

Typical scrap tire management before 1985 consisted of sending whole tires to landfills for burial. Another means of managing scrap tires was to collect scrap tires from retailers and place them onto a pile, since there were no laws restricting how scrap tires could be managed, nor any programs seeking to encourage other uses for scrap tires. Tire stockpiles are a major fire hazard, and due to water collection, they are grounds for mosquito breeding.

Since 1990 scrap tire stockpiles have been reduced by 73%. In 2003 the RMA estimates that over 290 million tires were discarded. Based on the U.S. Census population data, this figure means that about one tire is discarded annually per person. In addition, from 2001 through the end of 2003, the total number of scrap tires going to market, rather than landfills, increased from 218 million tires (77.6 percent of the 281 million scrap tires generated) to 233.3 million (80.4% of the 290.2 million generated).

Recycled rubber products are made from plentiful sources of 'used' rubber (i.e. car tires). While these products do not offer as many technical characteristics as virgin sheet products, recycled rubber is a cost-effective source of material. Therefore, recycled rubber products are suitable for applications that require high levels of durability and abrasion resistance, as well as the natural cushioning qualities of rubber.

Athletic and recreational applications have been the fastest growing markets for ground rubber over the last two years. The incorporation of recycled rubber into these sport surfaces provides two benefits: increased safety and/or performance enhancement.

Rubber-Cal will try and offer recycled products for any application that can utilize reconstituted rubber products. This will reduce product costs incurred by our clients, and promote a healthier environment.