The main problem is with the stock piles of tire
shreds (4.J) over 20 ft high and 80 ft long that are
stored on the site, exposed in an unsightly and unsafe manner. Piles this size are unsafe because they pose a
signi®cant ®re hazard. When the steel wire in the tire
shreds comes in contact with water, it oxidizes, producing
heat. Enough heat and pressure can build up
within a large pile of 200 or more to set the tire shreds
on ®re. This problem can be addressed in several ways.
The majority of the shreds would be quickly utilized in
the proposed pyrolysis process to be explained later.
The remaining and new shreds should be stored in
smaller piles and covered to keep them dry. Safe Tire
could also improve their shredding process to reduce
the amount of steel wires in the shreds.