Tire derived fuel (TDF) refers to the use of scrap tires as a substitute for a fossil fuel. This is essentially the act of recovering the BTU value contained in a scrap tire. The average 20 lb. passenger tire contains 280,000 BTU – the equivalent of 2.5 gallons of oil or 20 pounds of coal.

Our tire processing plant in Portland, offers TDF for sale to customers with proper incinerating machinery. For more information, pricing and availability, contact us .

“Tires consumed for fuel in their whole form or in a 2-inch, 1-inch or smaller TDF chips, offers users a higher energy (BTU) value than coal or wood chips and have little or no adverse effect on air emissions.”

– U.S. EPA – Markets for Scrap Tires Report

Tires burned in the open create billowing black smoke and acrid fumes. Tires burned under proper conditions produce little or no smoke and fumes. The key is to use the tires for fuel in the correct situation. Proper emission systems must be in place to assure the tires safe combustion. The two principal facilities that use TDF are cement kilns and industrial boilers. In these applications the tires are used in combination with coal, natural gas, oil fuel or wood chips, these facilities primary fuel sources. TDF can be substituted for a percentage of the primary fuel. Because these industrial facilities are closely monitored and regulated by state and federal government they provide the ideal disposal option.