The Mounting Challenge: Tire and Rubber Waste in the USA
By choosing products made with BARCO’s recovered carbon black, you’re not just getting a high-quality material – you’re making a significant contribution to reducing the rubber industry’s carbon footprint.
Are you ready to join the Revolution?
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It is not JUST TYRES
Millions of tons of no tyre waste end up in landfills across the country, which can take 80 years to decompose.
300 million tires discarded annually
6 billion pounds of tire waste generated each year
Over 100 million tires are still stockpiled across the USA
Look at the impact on the Environment when you decide to burn rubber:-
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Hydrocarbons (Including Benzene and Toluene)
Dioxins and Furans
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
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Differing products require tech solutions
Whilst there are many current systems for scrap materials, many have differing materials bonded or embedded, and R & D, Investment, and creativity is the only way to release the value of these items. Here Continuum leads the way.
5 million tons of rubber waste ends up in landfills annually
This includes manufacturing scrap and worn-out rubber products
Think conveyor belts, hoses, and other industrial rubber items
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Waste Rubber - Our Opportunity
Recovered Carbon Black: A Key Player in CO2 Reduction
At BARCO, we’re committed to not just recycling rubber, but also to significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the rubber industry. One of the most impactful ways we achieve this is through the production and use of recovered carbon black (rCB). Let’s explore how rCB compares to virgin carbon black in terms of CO2 emissions.
The CO2 Impact of Virgin Carbon Black
Virgin carbon black production is a carbon-intensive process:
Producing 1 kg of virgin carbon black emits approximately 2.5 to 3.0 kg of CO2.
The global carbon black industry produces about 15 million metric tons annually.
This results in over 40 million metric tons of CO2 emissions each year - equivalent to the annual emissions of about 8.7 million passenger vehicles.
The Green Alternative: Recovered Carbon Black
Recovered carbon black, produced through our advanced pyrolysis process, offers a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions:
Producing 1 kg of rCB emits only about 0.5 to 0.8 kg of CO2.
This represents a CO2 reduction of 70-80% compared to virgin carbon black.
Quantifying the Impact
Let’s put these numbers into perspective:
For every metric ton of rCB used in place of virgin carbon black, we save approximately 2 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
Beyond CO2: Additional Environmental Benefits
The benefits of rCB extend beyond just CO2 reduction:
Resource Conservation: rCB production doesn’t require oil or natural gas as feedstock, conserving these finite resources.
Waste Reduction: Using rCB helps divert millions of tires from landfills or incineration.
Energy Savings: The production of rCB typically requires less energy than virgin carbon black.
Quality and Performance
Despite its significant environmental benefits, rCB doesn’t compromise on quality:
In many applications, rCB performs comparably to virgin carbon black.
It can be used in a wide range of rubber products, from tires to industrial rubber goods.
Ongoing research and development are continually improving rCB quality and expanding its applications.