WASHINGTON—The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association is planning to issue a "call to action" on Dec. 4 at the 2019 Scrap Tire Recycling Conference in Greenville, S.C., to develop new "sustainable, circular end-use markets" for scrap tires.
The conference, scheduled for Dec. 4-5 in Greenville, S.C., offers industry leaders, regulators and stakeholders a valuable opportunity to review key developments in scrap tire management, the USTMA said.
The Washington-based tire industry trade group did not elaborate on the nature of its pending call to action.
The conference—co-sponsored by the USTMA, Michelin North America, South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (STREF)—will explore emerging trends in the circular economy and scrap tires and challenges and opportunities for growing existing and developing new markets for scrap tires.
Among those scheduled to speak are:
- Bobby Hitt, South Carolina secretary of commerce
- Anne Forristall Luke, USTMA president and CEO;
- Rick Toomey, director of the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control; and
- Allie Kelly, executive director, The Ray.
The full lineup of speakers can be found on STREF's website.
According to the USTMA, roughly 250 million scrap tires are discarded in the U.S. each year. Of these, about 81% are redirected to beneficial end-uses like rubber-modified asphalt, recycled carbon black, micronized rubber powder, molded and extruded automotive products and tire-derived fuel.
The Scrap Tire Recycling Conference will advance the tire industry's goal that all scrap tires enter sustainable end-use markets.
The conference is taking place at that Hyatt Regency in Greenville, running 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. on the 4th and 8:30 a.m to noon on the 5th.
For more information on the Tire Recycling Conference or to register, visit STREF's website.
STREF is a non-profit research and education foundation established by the USTMA to support basic and applied research and education about the appropriate handling and use of waste or scrap tires.