Liberty Tire Recycling and Bridgestone Americas Present 'Recycle AKRON: 2013' to Explore Scrap Tires and Use in Asphalt

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Tire Recycling, the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America, and Bridgestone Americas, the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company, will highlight the innovative benefits of rubberized asphalt on August 22, 2013 with an event called "Recycle AKRON: 2013."  The event will be held at the Bridgestone/Firestone facility in Akron (10 East Firestone Boulevard) and will gather transportation and environmental professionals, civic leaders and policymakers to learn more about scrap tire management in Ohio and rubberized asphalt materials and applications.  Speakers will include experts from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Bridgestone/Firestone, Flexible Pavements of Ohio, Seneca Petroleum, and Liberty Tire Recycling.

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"States that locally source recycled tire rubber for asphalt projects experience a win-win in terms of waste disposal and longer-lasting, less expensive roadways," said Jeffrey Kendall, CEO of Liberty Tire Recycling.  "Rubberized asphalt has come a long way to provide not only a sustainable outlet for scrap tires but to contribute to improved highway infrastructure."

The sessions at Recycle AKRON: 2013 will consist of presentations on topics including "Tire Processing in Ohio," "Ohio Asphalt Industry Overview on Use of Modified Binders," "PG Binders for Use in Ohio," "Tennessee Experience with Rubber and Modified Asphalt" and "Rubberized Asphalt Materials and Applications," which will provide an overview of the advantages of rubberized asphalt, from enhanced safety and reduced tire noise to better crack resistance and cost savings.   

"Bridgestone/Firestone works to ensure that for every new tire we sell in the U.S., another tire that has been removed from use is sent to a valuable purpose," said Tim Bent, environmental director for Bridgestone Americas.  "Rubberized asphalt has enormous potential for utilizing a large number of the tires discarded each year for an incredibly important product – lower-cost, safer, sustainable roads."

Rubberized asphalt is a low-cost, high-performance alternative to traditional paving mixes that reduces dependency on oil and limits carbon dioxide emissions. Added to traditional asphalt, crumb rubber comprises 8 to 22 percent of the binder and increases tensile strength.  For more than 40 years, rubberized asphalt has proven to diminish maintenance costs and provide a smoother, safer ride.  Plus, recycled rubber provides a reliable and consistent supply of material.

"We encourage state and municipal engineers and road maintenance supervisors to take rubberized asphalt specifications from this event and put them into practice in Ohio to save money without sacrificing performance," Kendall added.

For more information about Liberty Tire Recycling, visit www.libertytire.com.     

To learn more about Bridgestone Americas and its environmental commitments, visit www.OneTeamOnePlanet.com.

About Liberty Tire Recycling

Liberty Tire Recycling is the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America.  By recycling more than 140 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.

About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world's largest chain of automotive tire and service centers. Guided by its One Team, One Planet message, the company is dedicated to achieving a positive environmental impact in all of the communities it calls home.

SOURCE Liberty Tire Recycling