TDP Catalog

Market Category/Sub- Categories

Barriers

Financial – Specialized heating and blending equipment is needed by batch plants and chip seal contractors to use RAC, limiting use to larger project sizes and contractors with the required equipment. Policy – Caltrans is not required to use ground rubber from California in RAC. At least one Caltrans district has reportedly moved away from RAC to polymer paving materials. Educational/Institutional – Local governments are not exposed to the product or are loyal to their current suppliers and techniques. Economic – Some report that there is a shortage of waste truck tires, which is a preferred feedstock for ground rubber used in RAC. Economic – The economic downturn has impacted local governments’ budgets, delaying projects. Moreover, stimulus money that had funded some projects is now exhausted. This may also put RAC at a disadvantage when compared to traditional paving products, due to its higher up-front costs, despite the fact that long-term costs are generally lower. Technical – Lack of industry standards and specifications, testing protocols, and accessibility of testing equipment complicates quality control/quality assurance efforts, especially for molded-extruded products and rubber-plastic compounds. Financial/Research – High up-front costs are more than for alternative non-tire products; long-term product performance and life cycle costs have not been documented by independent agencies. This can make it difficult for consumers to justify the cost of installing such products over “traditional” products. Technical – Inherent characteristics of the material limits its usability as a feedstock. Technical – Lack of superfine ground processing within California that is required to manufacture some products. Economic – Competition with lower-priced imported products can make it difficult to compete in the marketplace. Financial – Inconsistent financial benefit to feedstock conversion, as benefits depend upon price fluctuations of other materials, e.g., oil, etc.; processors have not invested in production capacity for ultra fine rubber due to unproven demand. Economic – Trucking transportation costs heading east are relatively costly (economic transportation is available, however heading back to California from produce delivery backhauls). This makes it challenging to sell products or tire-derived material cost effectively in neighboring states.

RAC and Other Paving

RAC and Other Paving Turf and Athletic Fields

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Pour-in-Place Playground

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Mulch/Bark

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Turf and Athletic Fields

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Loose-Fill Playground/mulch

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Pour-in-Place Playground

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Molded and Extruded

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Other

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Turf and Athletic Fields

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Loose-Fill Playground/mulch

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Pour-in-Place Playground

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Molded and Extruded

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Molded and Extruded

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Mulch

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Turf and Athletic Fields

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Other

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Contractor’s Report to CalRecycle

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