Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency decided not to classify scrap tires as solid waste under the Clean Air Act, enabling whole or shredded scrap tires to be used, if managed by established collection programs, as fuel by industrial facilities. The move was praised by the Rubber Manufacturers Association, the recycling side of the industry and now the Tire Industry Association.
Dick Gust, co-chairman of TIA’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), said, “Clearly, the EPA has listened to the industry and understands the valuable asset scrap tires provide as a cost effective energy resource. Although the tire recycling industry is developing many new product uses for scrap tires, the use of tire-derived fuel produced from scrap tires continues to represent the single largest market for the nearly 300 million scrap tires generated in the U.S. annually.”
Industry data pegs the number of scrap tires consumed as alternative fuel at around 50 million tires. According to Gust, the loss or reduction of this market would have had a dire economic impact on the tire recycling industry. In addition, he noted recovering resources that replace petroleum products has never been more important than it is today.
“Had the markets for tire-derived fuel declined, the cost for disposal for the tire collector/recycler would have increased, since the scrap would have to be disposed of at a landfill – for a cost – as opposed to selling the material as fuel,” Gust said. “In addition, since disposing of scrap tires at a landfill is not allowed in certain areas, the scrap material would encounter higher transportation costs to areas that would accept tires. All of these cost increases to the recycler would eventually find their way back to the retail generator.”
He also noted that since these restrictions on utilizing landfills often lead to illegal disposal activities, tire dealers would be faced with major liability concerns and possible fines should the collector be “less than honest.”
The EPA took up the scrap tire issue in June 2007 after a federal court ruled that the EPA violated provisions of the Clean Air Act by allowing scrap tires to be burned as an energy source.
“The EAC thanks TIA and the coalition of associations and industries who devoted their time to express their position and concerns to the EPA,” Gust said. “Fortunately, the EPA recognized that the tire recycling industry today is lead by professional organizations that understand the value of the scrap tire as a resource and properly manage that resource for the benefit of business, industry and the environment.”
