Discarded tire recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea

Discarded tires have been a disposal problem and continue to accumulate throughout the world today. In the United States, in particular, over 279 million discarded tires are being added to an estimated 2 billion tires currently stockpiled around the country. The stockpiled tires provide breeding sites for mosquitoes which can spread diseases and often constitute fire hazards. Utilization of discarded tires would minimize environmental impact and maximize conservation of natural resources. Current practice includes retreading, recycling as crumb rubber, and combustion for thermal energy. A literature review was made to compare the discarded tire recycling practices in the United States, Japan and Korea.