At BARCO, we believe there’s a better way. 

Tire Waste: A Growing Environmental Crisis with a Sustainable Solution

Each year, the U.S. generates an overwhelming volume of tire waste — a mounting challenge for both industry and the environment:

300 million tires discarded annually

6 billion pounds of tire waste generated every year

Over 100 million tires still stockpiled nationwide

Once discarded, tires can take up to 80 years to decompose, posing a long-term burden on landfills and ecosystems.

The Hidden Cost of Tire Incineration

Burning rubber isn’t just a waste of resources — it’s a serious environmental hazard. Tire combustion releases a host of harmful pollutants, including:

Carbon Monoxide (CO) – a toxic gas with serious health and climate impacts

Volatile Hydrocarbons – including benzene and toluene, both linked to respiratory issues and cancer

Dioxins and Furans – persistent organic pollutants known for their toxicity and bioaccumulation

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) – hazardous compounds with long-term ecological and health effects

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

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.

Critical to all current and future projects is the adherence to processes and procedures that ensure we benefit society and the environment.

Our company and its team are committed to the highest standards of Carbon Stewardship, and certify our recovery process for both Carbon Black and TPO- Tire Pyrolysis Oils.