Waste Tire Generation and Disposal

Waste tires are generated in the United States at an estimated rate of approximately 240 million tires (approximately 2.4 million tons) per year.1,2 These estimates do not include tires that are retreaded or reused second-hand retreading and reuse are considered to extend the life of a tire before it is scrapped. 

Approximately 8 to 11 percent of the scrap tires generated annually (approximately 192,000 to 264,000 tons/year) are estimated to be burned for fuel.1,2 Section 1.2 below discusses the advantage and disadvantages of tires as fuel. 

Disposal options other than landfilling, stockpiling, or burning account for approximately 5 to 16 percent of the 

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