TDP Catalog

Waste Tire Imports

In 2012, approximately 1.6 percent of waste tires handled by processors were imported into California from states such as Hawaii and Washington. These tires have been subtracted from the statistics provided in this report to ensure the quantities are only indicative of the disposition of California tires.

Waste Tire and TDF Exports

As illustrated in Figure 5, in 2012 the dominant trend in California tire recycling markets continued to be growth in exports of waste tires and also of processed tire-derived fuel, sent largely to Asian nations but also to other regions. 8 The quantity exported in 2012 is estimated at 13.5 million passenger tire equivalents, or nearly 30 percent of all tires managed. Since 2011, export has been the single largest market destination for California waste tires. While this is a new trend for tires, it is a situation that is very common with other recyclables. Waste tire exports increased more than 40 percent in 2012, on top of a 50 percent rise in 2011.

Figure 5 Trends in Export of Waste Tires/Tire-Derived Fuel and Used Tires

16 14 12 10

35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10%

f PTEs os noilliM

8 6 4 2 0

5% 0%

Waste Tires

Used Tires

Combined Exports

Percent Exported

During the initial years of the tire export boom, from 2008 through 2011, a large portion of exported tires were baled or shredded waste tires. While these tires were destined for tire-derived fuel, they were largely processed overseas. However, export of processed tire-derived fuel to Japan and other countries has also grown substantially and continues to be very strong and growing. In late 2012, China began increased enforcement that effectively closed the doors for continued importation of waste tire bales and shreds, which had by many accounts been continuing through Vietnam. China is currently stepping up scrutiny of all recycled commodities imported into the nation, through a new “green fence” policy, suggesting that slow or no demand for tires may continue indefinitely. Concurrent with this shift in export demand, CalRecycle enforcement activities, including some streamlined changes in administrative procedures, has also impacted the scale of operations at some exporters that had been baling or shredding tires but not further processing them to meet specifications such as those of tire-derived fuel.

8 The 2011 California Waste Tire Market Report included a detailed analysis of waste tire export trends and issues.

Contractor’s Report to CalRecycle

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