Tire-Derived Fuel

BDS Tire Recycling, Inc.’s wire-free tire-derived fuel (TDF) is manufactured from shredded scrap tires and screened into small chips with more than 99% of the tire wire removed. TDF size is usually customized to meet the end user’s fuel specifications.

TDF is typically used to supplement traditional fuels such as coal, wood, and natural gas at paper mills, power plants, and cement kilns.  TDF is often selected as a supplemental energy source because it emits lower carbon emissions than coal and natural gas. It is typically more cost-effective with its high BTU value.

The heating value (measured in BTUs/pound) for wood averages between approximately 8,000 and 9,000 BTUs/pound compared to wire-free TDF, which can exceed 15,000 BTUs/pound.  The heating value for coal is about 25% less than wire-free TDF.

In April 2005, the EPA stated: “Based on over 15 years of experience with more than 80 individual facilities, EPA recognizes that the use of tire-derived fuels is a viable alternative to the use of fossil fuels.”