FACT: 2,000 Tires Re-Used for Each Lane Mile of Rubberized Asphalt

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Rubberized asphalt is a high-performance alternative to traditional paving material that combines the strength and versatility of asphalt and the longevity and flexibility of recycled rubber.  Derived from scrap tires, rubberized asphalt is longer lasting, safer, less costly and friendlier to the environment than traditional paving materials. Rubberized asphalt provides an outlet for between 500 and 2,000 scrap tires per lane mile of pavement. For a 1-mile section of four-lane highway, between 2,000 and 8,000 tires create a longer-lasting, safer, and more cost-effective roadway.

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"Rubberized asphalt resists cracking and rutting, improves skid resistance, decreases splash and spray in wet conditions and decreases maintenance costs," said Jeffrey Kendall, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling, the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America.  "As a truly innovative 'green' product, rubberized asphalt is not just sustainable, but actually better than the traditional alternative.  Better in every way."

Cracking in traditional asphalt is a result of vertical or horizontal movements beneath the overlay that are caused by traffic loads, temperature fluctuations and shifting earth.  Rubberized asphalt reduces the occurrence of cracking and rutting with superior elasticity and stiffness.  In use for more than 40 years, rubberized asphalt is laid using the same equipment as traditional asphalt in most cases.  The longer lasting properties of recycled rubber reduce long-term maintenance costs.  Plus, the use of recycled rubber provides a reliable and consistent supply of material.

Other environmental factors include the reduction of noise pollution by up to 5 decibels on highways, and the reduction of high temperature zones caused by urban heat islands.  A heat island is an area that is significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas because developed land retains more heat.  Rubberized asphalt's porous top layer cools down quicker than conventional asphalt, cooling road surfaces and diminishing the effects of urban heat islands.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency promotes the use of rubberized asphalt, listing the benefits as "...longer lasting road surfaces, reduced road maintenance, cost effectiveness over the long term, lower road noise and shorter braking distances."

Liberty Tire Recycling reclaims more than 110 million tires annually throughout the U.S. and Canada, creating about 1.5 billion pounds of recycled rubber for smart, sustainable products.  For more information about Liberty Tire Recycling, visit www.libertytire.com.      

About Liberty Tire Recycling

Liberty Tire Recycling is the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America.  By recycling more than 110 million tires annually, Liberty Tire reclaims about 1.5 billion pounds of rubber for innovative, eco-friendly products.  The recycled rubber produced by Liberty Tire is used as crumb rubber and industrial feedstock for molded products; as tire-derived fuel for industrial kilns, mills and power plants; and as rubber mulch for landscaping and playgrounds.  The company maintains a nationwide network of processing plants, and comprehensive door-to-door collection services.  Liberty Tire Recycling is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.  For more information, please visit www.libertytire.com.

SOURCE Liberty Tire Recycling