COLUMBUS, Ohio-The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is working on new rules that would allow tires to be put in monofills to be recycled later as needed. ``We estimate there are over 100 million tires dumped either legally or illegally in Ohio right now,'' said Bob Large, supervisor of the Ohio EPA's Scrap Tire Management unit.
The EPA plans call for the tires to be kept in privately operated monofills to be regulated by the state, Mr. Large said. The state also is looking at storing tires underwater to eliminate the threat of fire.
Up to now, the disposal of tires has been basically unregulated in Ohio, Mr. Large said. As a result, illegal dumping occurs often.
ISRI meeting, expo slated inMarch
LAS VEGAS-The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries will hold its annual meeting and exposition March 20-22 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.
Special features include eight hours of exhibit time during which no other meeting events will be scheduled.
Organizers expect more than 2,000 participants, including those involved in the scrap rubber industry.
For exhibit information, call Bill Baker at (708) 833-8367. For convention details, call Jim Morgan at (202) 662-8531.
Idaho firm awarded grant for tire removal
SHOSHONE, Idaho-The state has awarded a $320,000 grant to Idaho Tire Recovery Inc. of Shoshone to clear tires from the former Treasure Valley Tire Recycling Inc. facility in Emmett.
The whole tires will be transported to the Ash Grove Cement plant in Durkee, Ore., to supplement the kiln's fuel feedstock, the company said.
The Treasure Valley firm went bankrupt in 1993 after three years of collecting tires in southwest Idaho, leaving more than 300,000 tires at the site.
Idaho Tire, which collects whole tires for five cement plants in the region, expects to complete the removal by summer.
Tire dealer group seeks changes in W.Va. rules
CHARLESTON, W.Va.-The West Virginia Tire Dealers Associa-tion, in conjunction with a coalition of other trade associations, is seeking changes in the state's proposed waste tire management rules.
The WVTDA is advocating a sales tax on the retail purchase of tires or a fee on annual vehicle registrations as a more fair funding mechanism than the proposed fee on wholesale tires, according to WVTDA Executive Director Floyd Sayor.
The coalition will either submit a proposal of changes to the Department of Environmental Protection or sponsor its own legislation, Mr. Sayor said.
Power company ends tire-fueled plant plan
ALBION, Mich.-Consumers Power Co. has ended plans to buy electricity from a proposed wood- and tire-burning, 44-megawatt power plant.
Consumers said it bought out the 35-year contract with the Albion Renewable Energy power plant so that it could take advantage of less-expensive, unused power being generated from the Midland Cogeneration Venture.
The buyout will save customers about $45 million over the next 35 years, Consumers Power said.