Building With Tires

Modern tires are built to perform. Made from advanced polymers, reinforced carbon black, and steel, they’re engineered to deliver safety, durability, and reliability.

Each year, approximately six million tires reach the end of their road life in Alberta. Through Alberta’s Tire Recycling Program, these resources are recovered and transformed into new, high-performing products that support economic, environmental, and social benefits across the province.

Tire-Derived Products (TDPs) are created through a range of processing methods, resulting in engineered materials used in infrastructure, manufacturing, and community projects. Key TDPs include:

Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA)

TDA is created when end-of-life tires are processed to meet the specifications required for a particular civil or environmental engineering application. TDA’s lightweight properties, excellent drainage, and durability solve a variety of engineering problems, making it a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional materials in many infrastructure projects.

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Mulch

Mulch is up to 2 inch (5.08 cm) chips made by processing tires with 99 percent of the reinforcing wire removed. It is manufactured to simulate wood chips, and it has been shown to control weeds, resist mould, retain moisture, and require infrequent addition. As added benefits, it does not harbour insects or attract neighbourhood animals.

Crumb Rubber

Crumb rubber is a product made by grinding tires into small granules and removing the steel and fiber components. It’s used in a wide variety of manufactured products, from athletic surfaces and flooring to traffic safety devices and landscaping materials.

Rubber Modified Asphalt (RMA)

RMA is created by blending crumb rubber into an asphalt binder. The result is a road surface that delivers improved performance, longer service life, and reduced lifecycle costs for municipalities and industry.

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TDPs offer a range of advantages, including reduced weight, improved drainage, shock absorption, noise reduction, and enhanced durability. These attributes make them practical and sustainable alternatives to conventional materials in construction, agriculture, energy, and other sectors.

By building with tires, Albertans can advance cost-effective, resilient, high-performing, and sustainable infrastructure for the future.

BRING YOUR TDA PROJECT TO LIFE

Have a municipal or infrastructure project in mind?

Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA) offers a cost-effective, high-performing solution for a wide range of applications—from roadway construction to drainage and landfill systems.

Through ARMA’s programs, eligible projects may receive funding support to help offset material and implementation costs—making it easier to build resilient, sustainable infrastructure using sustainable construction materials.

Our team works with municipalities and project partners to identify opportunities, share information, and connect you with the resources and expertise needed to support your project.

Let’s explore what’s possible.

Connect with our team to discuss your project and learn how TDA can help meet your performance, budget, and sustainability goals.

Questions about TDA? Reach out anytime at info@albertarecycling.ca.

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*Alberta Recycling makes no warranty, express or implied, and assumes no liability for the information provided in this website. References to individual businesses and their commercial products do not constitute an endorsement by Alberta Recycling. The information contained in this website is not complete, and is provided as a convenience to our website visitors and for informational purposes only.

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Alberta Recycling Management Authority works with Albertans from all areas of our province, as such, we acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples who have and continue to live among, travel through and care for the land in the area currently known as Alberta. The relationship that Indigenous Peoples of Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 have with the land is founded on a deep respect and relationship with the environment. This connection forms the foundation of our responsibility and vision of inspiring a future without waste.

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