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Environment and Conservation
April 20, 2011

Solution Reached to Eliminate Tire Stockpile at Placentia

The Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) has reached agreements with two cement manufacturers in Quebec - Holcim (Canada) Inc. and Lafarge Canada Inc. – to eliminate the tire stockpile at Placentia. The companies will utilize the tires for tire derived fuel, an alternate fuel source.

“Based on our analysis of this option to deal with the stockpile of tires in Placentia, we are confident we have found a viable, cost-effective solution to deal with the approximately two million tires at the site,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “This stockpile has been a challenge for a number of years, and we are most pleased with the agreements we now have in place. This also represents a positive step forward in terms of our diversion goals and the overall objectives of our Used Tire Recycling Program.”

Under the arrangements with Holcim (Canada) Inc. and Lafarge Canada Inc., the stockpile of tires will be removed within a two-year period. A tender for the transportation of the tires to Quebec will be issued by the MMSB.

In addition to the two new agreements reached today, to halt the growth of the stockpile, in 2010 the MMSB entered into an agreement to send the tires that are collected on an annual basis through the Used Tire Recycling Program to Quebec. The MMSB will continue to send the used tires generated annually to Quebec under the current long-term transportation contract.

“We have worked diligently on a solution for tires for quite some time, and we believe we have reached a feasible solution to deal with the current stockpile of tires quickly and at the lowest overall cost,” said Leigh Puddester, Chair and CEO of MMSB. “We will continue to explore other environmentally sound solutions for Newfoundland and Labrador for the future generation of tires.”

Consumers are reminded they can leave their used tires, at no cost, with a tire retailer upon purchase of new tires, or they can be returned at a later date to any tire retailer during regular business hours. Used tires must be in whole form, free of mud and debris, and must have their rims removed prior to disposal at a retailer.

The Used Tire Recycling Program, which was implemented in 2002, is administered by the MMSB on behalf of the Department of Environment and Conservation. The program places a ban on the disposal of used tires in municipal waste disposal sites throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and provides residents with an environmentally safe way to dispose of used passenger and light truck tires. The program is paid for by a levy system on the sale of new tires, up to and including a rim size of 24.5 inches. It is estimated that the MMSB will collect and divert 400,000 used tires in 2011.

The MMSB is a Crown agency of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that reports to the Minister of Environment and Conservation. Its mandate is to support progressive waste management practices in the province, with a particular focus on waste diversion, recycling and public education, in order to ensure a clean and healthy environment throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contacts:

Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
Cara Pike
Director of Communications
MMSB
709-757-3696, 689-4795
cpike@mmsb.nl.ca


 

2011 04 20                                                  2:35 p.m.

 
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