Recently, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management partnered with a steelmaker in a trial project to test the viability of using crumb rubber from scrap tires in its steelmaking process. The goal of the collaboration was to determine whether the recycled tire materials could replace some of the pet coke traditionally used in steel production, reducing the amount of coke used and demonstrating a practical use for scrap tires. Project participants were pleased with the results.
More than five million tires are scrapped every year in Alabama. When improperly discarded, old tires can be an environmental menace. To combat the problem, ADEM has invested tens of millions of dollars to assist local communities in cleaning up improperly discarded tires and promoting beneficial uses for scrap tires so that fewer are thrown away.
