Findings

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 290 million automobile tires are discarded by Americans every year.

Nearly 80 percent of these tires are being recycled and turned into commercially viable products we can all use and enjoy. Some examples of use include:

-- Playgrounds: Recycled tires are shredded and spread like mulch to act as a cushion against accidental injury.

-- Auto Accessories: Some recycled tires make their way back to other automobiles. Once the recycled rubber is ground and shredded, the used tires make exhaust pipes, brake pads and insulation. Recycled tires are also woven into mats and used as truck bed liners.

-- Civil Engineering: Recycled tires are often ground into crumb rubber, the main ingredient in rubberized asphalt for resurfacing roads and highways.

What about tires collected for recycling in Flagstaff and Coconino County?

These tires are transported to Crumb Rubber Manufacturers in Phoenix for processing into crumb rubber. Next time you drive on the recently resurfaced portions of I-17 you will be driving on crumb rubber collected through our local tire recycling program.

http://azdailysun.com/news/local/sustainability-tip-of-the-week-what-happens-to-recycled-tires/article_6fbd7072-13ff-5b2b-9807-3ed81b2a3ae2.html

http://discardstudies.com/2011/11/28/terribly-charasmatic-piles-of-tires/