Rubber Tech Inc., a Kansas-based company, is looking to convert a process to convert used tires into a host of recyclable materials into a viable business. The goal would allow the company to handle several million tons every year at its facilities, according to Larry Garner, president of Rubber Tech.
The company is presently talking with government officials from Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas about building a tire recycling in their state. The cost, Garner estimates, is around $5.5 million, which would include up to six machines which would be capable of handling a total of six million tires a year.
While processing six million tires a year, the company also expects to have around 250,000 tires on hand at all time, meaning an even more significant space requirement.
The machines would convert tires into a multitude of sizes, with sizes larger than ¼ inch being used to generate electricity. Crumb rubber smaller than ¼ inch would go into making coating for roofs and highway construction.
The process is not grinding. Rather, the company will be using hydraulics to process the tires. Further, the end product will not contain any steel or other material, making the crumb rubber product very clean.
The company hopes to have its first facility up and operational within six months, making a decision about where to locate pressing. To avoid any environmental problems, Garner says that the company is looking at a facility that would be as large as 150,000 square feet, and totally enclosed.
One possibility is a closed American Tire Recycling facility in Ringgold, Ga. According to local press reports the company has been in discussions with the owner of the former tire recycling operation about leasing several buildings that American Recycling operated when it was recycling tires.
While Rubber Tech has been in some discussions with state and local government officials, Garner says that there is some skepticism about the viability of the project due to the failure of other tire operations.
According to Garner, there is interest, although many of the government officials want to see the facility built and operational before they allocate any type of financial assistance for the project.