Green Roads: making roads with recycled tires.

Problem:

Approximately 1.5 billion tires are produced each year which will eventually enter the waste stream representing a major potential waste and environmental problem. In Bangladesh, total waste tire generation of each year is about 90000 tons. They typically leak toxic heavy metals into the surrounding soil and water table. And when waste tires collect rain water, they act as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests. Stored tires are also a perpetual fire risk. Burning tire makes Air pollution.

Proposed Solution:

Scrap tires can be crushed and mixed with asphalt to make roads. It’s a popular, proven technology. All specification made by ASTM.

Impact:

1. Reduce appx. 30% cost for road manufacturing.
2. Durable pavement requires less maintenance.
3. Skid-resistant surface and prolonged color contrast makes for safer driving.
4. It keeps thousands of tires out of landfills so it can reduce Environmental (Soil, Water and Air) pollution.
5. Reduce potential fire risk.

Pollution caused nearly 28 percent of deaths in 2018 – more than 10 times the number of deaths from traffic accidents. The country has lost about $6.5 billion or 3.4% of its 2018 GDP due to pollution and environmental degradation in urban areas. More than 60% of Bangladesh's population is concentrated mainly in urban areas.

The disposal of non-biodegradable solid tire wastes from human activity is a growing environmental problem for the modern society, especially in urban areas. 

Bangladeshi current practice:        

1. Reconstruction of waste tires (1% ~ 2%)
2. Shredding or grinding and crumbling to recycle rubber powders (appx. 5%)
3. Incineration to supply thermal energy in utility boilers to produce electricity, in cement kilns and brick fields (Appx. 60%)
4. Landfilling, heaping and abandonment (20%~25%)
5. Pyrolysis (Appx. 10%) However, Pyrolysis is quite expensive because it is requires energy-intensive mechanical equipment.

The scrap tires burn directly in brick fields or any other incineration plant then various harmful gases produced which cause environmental pollution. On the other hand, burning of these tires causes excessive damage to human health caused by the pollutant emissions.

So almost 60% of our population is directly affected by Environmental pollution caused by scrap tires. 

Incineration to supply thermal energy in utility boilers to produce electricity, in cement kilns and brick fields (Appx. 60%) and Landfilling, heaping and abandonment (20%~25%)

Now it is clearly noticed that we need to reduce the environmental pollution by reducing the uses of scrap tire which is now using in incineration and landfill.

 My proposed solution can help our society in three ways:

1. It will reduce environmental pollution.
2. It will reduce pavement construction costs by 30%.
3. it will reduce accidents, especially in the rainy season.

Our proposed service is to collect scrap tire from all over Bangladesh, make it crumb rubber and sell it to Construction Company who are engaged with road construction. They will use it for making Rubberized Asphalt Concrete (RAC) using Asphalt Batching Plant.   

To make scrap tire to crumb runner, we need to set up one factory. It requires money investment.

Crumb rubber is recycled rubber produced from automotive and truck scrap tires. During the recycling process, steel and tire cord (fluff) are removed, leaving tire rubber with a granular consistency. Continued processing with a granulator or cracker mill, possibly with the aid of cryogenics or by mechanical means, reduces the size of the particles further. The particles are sized and classified based on various criteria including color (black only or black and white). The granulate is sized by passing through a screen, the size based on a dimension (1/4 inch) or mesh (holes per inch : 10, 20, etc.). Crumb rubber is often used in artificial turf as cushioning.

Process

About Crumb rubber

About RAC

We want to set up a new application of existing technology to serve a new population.

In the current practice, 80% over scrap tire contributes to environmental pollution. In my solution, it will become zero. At the same time, it will reduce the uses of aggregates which is mainly imported from other countries. 

Using the current practice, 80% over scrap tire contributes to environmental pollution. In my solution, it will become zero. At the same time, it will reduce the uses of aggregates which is mainly imported from other countries.

As my background is Civil Engineering I can clearly notice the Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering requirements.

In environmental engineering requirements:  my solution can totally stop the soil water and air pollution caused by scrap tire.

 In transportation engineering requirement:  my solution can reduce the construction cost of roads and highways.  It will also reduce the maintenance cost and performance.

It is proven solution in USA. So definitely it will work in Bangladesh also.

N/A

In 2020, I will start my business and within five years I will process 50000 tons of scrap tire through my plant.

The only barrier is investment. I know the technology very well.

I am sharing my concept with potential people in my FnF and relatives who will not be threat for my business in future. I have some money also but it is 10% of total investment. So I am searching investors. 

N/A

If I can set up the plant then in first year full time employee will be 30 and within five years it will be 200+

I have completed my B. Sc in Civil Engineering Degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) at 2008. So I have 12 years working experience in Construction/Civil Engineering Sector. 

In my undergraduate level, I have completed my courses about Transportation Engineering which is 100% related with my solution.

N/A

Purchase scrap tire from tire collector (all over Bangladesh) > Send the collected scrap tire to my processing plant > Separate steel and Fiber > produce 99.5% pure rubber crumb > sell rubber crumb to Ready-mix Asphalt Concrete Plant  

# Total Investment:

Fixed Capital = Tk. 5,00,000.00

Running Capital = Tk. 1,45,00,000.00 (Considering raw material cost is Tk. 12,500/Ton)

So, Total Investment = Tk. 1,50,00,000.00

Loan (Consider 10% interest rate) = Tk. 1,35,00,000.00

Own Investment = Tk. 15,00,000.00

# Financial result for the first year:

Total Sale = Tk. 15,00,00,000.00

Net Profit = Tk. 5,00,00,000.00

Rate of return on investment = 33.33%

Payback period = 3.0 Years

Direct Employment (for the First Year) = 20 people

Indirect Employment (for the First Year) = 150 people

I am not calculate the above things aggressively, all data collected from current market. Also Rate of return on investment = 33.33% Payback period = 3.0 Years which is less than 5 Years. So it’s a perfect project for investment which is financially sustainable.

"Make this world a little better because we came into it."

Previously I have explained that for establish my business model, total investment is required as Tk.1,50,00,000.00 but I have only Tk.15,00,000.00 ; so it is clear that without financial support, I can't setup my project. Also, I will not eligible to get financial support from Bank because I have no fixed asset for Collateral Support Programs.

When I have found “The Tiger Challenge” program, then I feel that it is the right place to make my dream to practical.

As my solution is to reduce the Environmental pollution, new idea for Bangladesh as a developing country and directly make a positive impact on urban people, I believe, the evaluation team will consider my solution and help me to contribute for making a good solution for NEXT GENERATION.

"Make this world a little better because we came into it."

 A small sentence with few words but an enormous impact on my mind, body and intellect. In fact, after a long stint in the corporate and institutional world, there was a deep urge to me to be part of a movement that would make a world of difference to the world that we live in. And what better movement can it be than the one for a greener world? With this clarity and vision, I have chosen to be part of the Green movement that would make this world a better place to live, for us and for our future generations.