Waste Not, Want Not
By disposing through a reputable dealer, you enjoy the comfort of knowing the tires are legally disposed and you're protected from any future liability.
The United States produces about 43 million scrap truck tires each year. And more than 75% of those tires go to end use markets instead of landfills or stockpiles, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Assn. (RMA). In fact, 38 states ban whole tires from landfills, and the number of scrap tires going to end use markets has jumped from around 10% to 78% since 1990. Typical end-uses include asphalt, fuel, soil amendments, flooring and matting and landfill construction material, says the RMA. Thus, scrap truck tires are in demand with recyclers.
This was not always the case. "A few years ago nobody wanted to deal with truck tires," says Mark Hope, president of Waste Recovery Inc.
Nowadays, truck tires are in demand because of their all-black color and low-fiber content. These traits make them valuable sources for crumb rubber and fuel. Recyclers say truck tires are a good a fuel source for a variety of industrial applications. For example, truck tires are an excellent fuel for cement kilns. The tires are burned whole and provide a low-emission, no-ash fuel. This is not to say that fleets will have disposal companies beating down the door to haul away scrap tires. But as Michael Blumenthal, RMA senior technical director, points out, "I've never heard of a fleet that couldn't find somebody willing to pick up their scrap tires."
On the West Coast, a tire dealer will likely have the pick of the litter when choosing a tire-disposal outfit. This means you don't have to worry about your scrap tires ending up where they shouldn't. In other regions, you or your tire dealer will have more limited choices. Either way, it's important that tire dealers and fleet managers complete their due diligence. Hope says, "Ensure that your used tires are being properly processed. You don't want extended liability."
The days of stockpiling may be long gone, but Paul Crosser, a seminar analyst at Bandag Inc. says, "It all depends on your appetite for risk. Many fleets feel it's cost-effective to check out the company that's handling their tire disposal."
A fleet or its dealer shouldn't have a problem working out an attractive disposal schedule. Generally, large fleets schedule pick up on a bi-weekly basis, or even weekly if space in the yard is at a premium. Local and state laws will dictate how long and how many tires you can keep on site, but it's worth listening to the disposal rep to avoid unnecessary hassles. As a rule, you don't want more than 200-500 tires on your property. You may adjust the cycle depending on the weather, and if you're not happy with the process, don't hesitate to speak up.
Smaller fleets may feel comfortable with per-tire rate, while larger fleets are usually satisfied with a ton or trailer rate.
It's probably not a good idea - even for a smaller fleet - to shop separately for its new tire, retreading and disposal needs. By contracting with one service provider for all your tire needs you avoid the expense and hassle of casing inspection: Your dealer won't risk losing your business by scrapping retreadable casings. Even smaller fleets benefit by working directly with a single source for their tire requirements. This way they don't lose any retreadable casings should their in-house maintenance staff scrap a good one.
Moreover, it's more cost-effective to let your tire dealer handle the disposal paperwork. If questions arise about your scrap tires, you don't want to be in the position of chasing the paper trail for scattered tires.
By disposing through a reputable dealer, you enjoy the comfort of knowing the tires are legally disposed and you're protected from any future liability.
