Grants range from $75,000 to $350,000, depending on the amount of recycled tires being used. The organizations receiving grants have proposed converting manufacturing operations to accept scrap tire material, expand tire processing, use scrap tire material in civil engineering projects or develop recycling related technology for scrap tire material.
Those eligible for the grants include businesses sponsored by, educational institutions, solid waste management districts, authorities, municipalities and non-profit organizations. Matching funds were required to be at least equal to the grant amount.
Previous scrap tire grants have been used to fund various projects, including the creation of tire-derived fuel to power specially designed industrial boilers for use in utility plants, paper mills, and the purchase of scrap tire processing equipment, including shredders and conveying systems.
This year’s scrap tire grant recipients include the following:
· Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (Cooperating Enterprise: GroundScape Technologies) received $250,000 for a project that involves the purchase of equipment to expand current production of “playground safety material” and “landscape mulch” made with scrap tire material. This project uses 960,000 scrap tires per year. The company plans to hire 12 additional employees and provide at least $377,000 in matching funds.
· Ashtabula County Solid Waste District (Cooperating Enterprise: Iten Industries, Inc.) received $251,632 for a project that involves the purchase of equipment to extrude and manufacture landscaping pavers made with scrap tire material. This project utilizes 1.03 million scrap tires per year. The company plans to hire three additional employees and provide at least $650,000 in matching funds.
· Boardman Township, Mahoning County received $100,000 for a civil engineering project that involves the use scrap tire material as a base layer for a new parking lot. This project utilizes 1,500 scrap tires. The township plans to provide at least $100,000 in matching funds.
· Summit/Akron Solid Waste Management Authority (Cooperating Enterprise: ARMEX, Inc.) received $34,000 for a research and development project to create more efficient scrap tire processing equipment. Results will focus primarily on energy savings. This project utilizes 500 scrap tires. The company plans to hire two additional employees and provide at least $34,000 in matching funds.
· Lucas County Solid Waste Management District received $42,000 for a paving project that involves the use of scrap tire material to pave the Lucas County Recreation Center parking lot. This project utilizes 445 scrap tires. The district will provide at least $42,000 in matching funds.
· City of Northwood, Wood County received $100,000 for a paving project that involves the use scrap tire material to pave a 1-mile section of East Broadway Avenue in the city. This project utilizes 1,040 scrap tires. The city will provide at least $103,500 in matching funds.
· Wood County Solid Waste District received $100,000 for a paving project utilizing scrap tire material to construct a double turn lane on U.S. Route 6 and also pave the Tontogany Township Road access to the Wood County Landfill. This project uses 3,141 scrap tires. The district will provide at least $240,000 in matching funds.
· Diocese of Columbus, Board of Education (Cooperating Enterprise: Bishop Hartley High School) received $100,000 for the installation of a new running track made with scrap tire material. This project uses 4,650 scrap tires. The school district plans to hire two additional employees and provide at least $585,000 in matching funds.
· Valley Local School District, Scioto County received $33,574 to resurface its existing running track with a material that has a higher scrap tire content. This project utilizes at least 400 scrap tires. The school district will provide at least $33,574 in matching funds.
· Northern Local School District, Perry County (Cooperating Enterprise: Sheridan High School) received $90,779 for the installation of a new running track made with scrap tire material. This project uses 3,225 scrap tires. The district will provide at least $205,000 in matching funds.
· Greene County Solid Waste Management District (Cooperating Enterprise: CEMEX Fairborn Cement Plant) received $350,000 for a tire derived fuel project, including the purchase of equipment that blends scrap tire material with petroleum coke in the company’s cement kiln. This project uses 1.6 million scrap tires per year. The company will provide at least $2,088,000 in matching funds for the project.