TY - JOUR
T1 - Recycling waste vehicle tyres into crumb rubber and the transition to renewable energy sources
T2 - A comprehensive life cycle assessment
AU - Tushar, Quddus
AU - Santos, Joao
AU - Zhang, Guomin
AU - Bhuiyan, Muhammed A.
AU - Giustozzi, Filippo
N1 - Funding Information:
The author would like to acknowledge the participating industry that collaborated in providing primary data and technical support for this study. The authors of this article also acknowledge Palisade Decision Tools, to provide valuable suggestions and information.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - This study conducts a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) on converting waste vehicle tyres into recycled crumb rubber (CR) granules as an alternative polymer for enhancing asphalt properties. The LCA study has been performed on acquired industrial primary data by incorporating CR at different proportions of binder in one ton (1-ton) of asphalt mix following the wet method. The uncertainty analysis of design variables identified a relatively strong positive relation of emissions with the equipment energy consumption (r = 0.98). Monte Carlo simulations evaluate the potential renewable sources (solar, hydro, and wind) in sequence over fossil fuels for the possible transition in the Australian grid by 2030 and 2050, as per the Paris Agreement. 71.91% reduction of CO2 emissions is achievable by recycling vehicle tyres into crumb rubber compared to landfill and incineration. Recycling by-products of CR production, such as steel and textile, significantly mitigates negative impacts. A decrease of 2.23% emissions was associated to the use of crumb rubber as a binder modifier in the asphalt mixture via the midpoint assessment. In endpoint LCA, a higher association of resource (US$) saving costs was observed than for other protective zones, i.e., human health and ecosystem damage. Recycling 466,000 tonnes of disposable waste tyres contributes to 16.1 million US$ worth of resource savings. An equitable industry-based LCA and uncertainty analysis of design parameters can assist in prioritizing suitable options to improve efficiency and future emission strategies on a global scale.
AB - This study conducts a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) on converting waste vehicle tyres into recycled crumb rubber (CR) granules as an alternative polymer for enhancing asphalt properties. The LCA study has been performed on acquired industrial primary data by incorporating CR at different proportions of binder in one ton (1-ton) of asphalt mix following the wet method. The uncertainty analysis of design variables identified a relatively strong positive relation of emissions with the equipment energy consumption (r = 0.98). Monte Carlo simulations evaluate the potential renewable sources (solar, hydro, and wind) in sequence over fossil fuels for the possible transition in the Australian grid by 2030 and 2050, as per the Paris Agreement. 71.91% reduction of CO2 emissions is achievable by recycling vehicle tyres into crumb rubber compared to landfill and incineration. Recycling by-products of CR production, such as steel and textile, significantly mitigates negative impacts. A decrease of 2.23% emissions was associated to the use of crumb rubber as a binder modifier in the asphalt mixture via the midpoint assessment. In endpoint LCA, a higher association of resource (US$) saving costs was observed than for other protective zones, i.e., human health and ecosystem damage. Recycling 466,000 tonnes of disposable waste tyres contributes to 16.1 million US$ worth of resource savings. An equitable industry-based LCA and uncertainty analysis of design parameters can assist in prioritizing suitable options to improve efficiency and future emission strategies on a global scale.
KW - Asphalt pavements
KW - Crumb rubber (CR)
KW - Life cycle assessment (LCA)
KW - Monte Carlo simulations
KW - Recycling
KW - Renewable energy
KW - 22/3 OA procedure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85138171385&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116289
DO - 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116289
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85138171385
SN - 0301-4797
VL - 323
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - Journal of environmental management
JF - Journal of environmental management
M1 - 116289
ER -