Following a letter of opposition from the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the California bill that sought to restrict zinc used in tires (SB 1260) has been amended to no longer address zinc or tires.
The RMA has been leading opposition against the bill and sent a letter March 18 expressing its concerns about the bill stating, “Zinc oxide is an ingredient in all tires, and tires cannot be manufactured without its use. The bill would require fundamental breakthroughs in basic rubber chemistry that, even if feasible, would not achieve significant environmental benefit.”
The bill was withdrawn and amended earlier this week with language from a previous bill, SB114, that addresses storm water cleanup and not zinc or tires.
