An estimated one billion tires worldwide, about 17 million tonnes, reach the end of their useful lives every year. This number has been growing steadily and this trend is expected to continue.
In the Pacific, most island countries and territories generate seemingly large amounts of end-of-life tires (ELTs) due to having little legislative influence over the quality of tire imports, often resulting in the importation of second-hand tires, which have a limited life once installed on vehicles. In the absence of options for in-country reprocessing, many ELTs are dumped or landfilled consuming critical landfill space, exacerbating an already critical issue for atolls and small islands with limited land availability.
The booklet provides an overview of ELT recovery as well as the potential use of ELT through thermal processing. ELTs can be an energy source to replace fossil fuels and help conserve natural resources. For example, Tyre-Derived Fuel (TDF) are commonly used in cement kilns as a fuel substitute for coal. Industrial facilities across the world, including cement kilns, pulp and paper mills, and electric utilities, use TDF as a supplemental fuel to increase boiler efficiency, decrease air emissions, and lower costs.
For more information, contact [email protected].