Americans recycle nearly four out of five worn tires, outpacing many other common materials. The figure comes from the latest report by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association.
The data shows that 79 percent of scrap tires received some form of recovery in recent years. This rate exceeds paper at 68 percent, aluminum cans at 45 percent, and plastic bottles at 29 percent.
Burning tires for fuel accounted for the largest share at 33 percent of scrap tires in 2023. Ground rubber used in products such as playground surfaces and modified asphalt made up about 28 percent, an increase of 29 percent since 2019.
Stockpiles of abandoned tires fell sharply from more than one billion in 1990 to under 48 million in 2023. At the same time, tiny tire wear particles continue to enter waterways at an estimated rate of six million tons worldwide each year.