Introduction


Once a public health threat and environmental hazard responsible for sparking toxic fires and breeding vermin and insects, discarded tires are now seen by many as a valuable economic resource.  To fully leverage that resource, the University at Buffalo's Center for Integrated Waste Management was awarded support from the New York State Department of Economic Development (Empire State Development) to establish the Tire Derived Aggregate Program.
The mission of the TDA Program is to expand the beneficial use of recycled tire products in civil engineering applications in New York State through Education, Research and Product Development Support.

Tire Derived Aggregate (TDA) is a construction material recycled from the estimated 290 million tires discarded each year in the U.S. - 20 million of which come from New York State.  TDA has physical characteristics that make it well suited for use in a number of civil engineering applications such as septic system leach fields, insulating layers in road beds, lightweight fill in highway embankments and backfill for building foundations. 

The New York State Waste Tire Management & Recycling Act of 2003 clearly identifies the state's need to ensure there is a diverse and sustainable market for recycled tire products.  The Tire Derived Aggregate Program will help the state reach that goal by addressing technological, economic, and regulatory issues associated with the beneficial use of TDA in civil engineering applications.

This website is designed to be a central clearinghouse of information on the subject of TDA in Civil Engineering applications, usable by all those who have a stake in this type of beneficial use including but not limited to government agencies, TDA manufacturers and suppliers, consumers, technology providers, engineers and designers, and researchers.  The menu tabs on the left provide access to general information on the recycling of scrap tires and use of TDA, as well as to information on the specific use of TDA in civil engineering applications in New York State.

 

Link to NYS TDA Workshop, June 2009