RMA scrap tire meeting set for Oct. 25-26

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The seventh "Scrap to Profit" conference — an initiative co-sponsored and hosted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) — will be held Oct. 25-26 in Nashville.

Innovation to drive new and improved scrap tire markets will be a key theme for the conference, which is also supported by the Scrap Tire Research and Education Foundation (STREF), and the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation's Office of Sustainable Practices and Division of Solid Waste.

"The conference is an ideal education and networking forum for haulers, recyclers, processors, equipment suppliers and state and county scrap tire program managers to help improve their understanding of scrap tire markets, and what it takes to innovate and create new markets," said John Sheerin, director of End of Life Tire Programs for the RMA.

"Tennessee is ripe for environmentally conscious waste tire market development given the state's already impressive portfolio of tire and auto manufacturers," said Bob Martineau, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

"We feel like we are on the verge of a paradigm shift for how Tennessee disposes of its tire and related materials — a shift that will not only protect our environment but benefit our economy by allowing the private sector to capitalize on what is currently an underutilized market."

Mr. Sheerin added: "There is strong interest in scrap tire market innovations and opportunities to create new markets. It takes time and energy to innovate and produce new markets. This is hard work that demands patience, customer focus, and creativity.

"By focusing on innovation with presenters who have experience doing just that, we hope to encourage the collaboration and experimentation that it takes to grow new markets."

Topics to be discussed will be non-commercial and include market discussions of tire-derived fuel; civil engineering and ground rubber markets; research and education needs for new markets; and recent innovations in scrap tire uses; along with an update on pyrolysis and gasification technologies.

Additionally, the Scrap Tire Work Group will meet on Oct. 24 to discuss progress being made by U.S. state scrap tire markets and programs. The state-run Scrap Tire Work Group includes representatives from government, trade organizations, scrap tire publications, consultants, academia, and scrap tire recyclers.

The conference will be held at the The Inn at Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

Information about the conference is available at stref.org.