Tire Group Applauds EPA Decision

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) is applauding a recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that the association says will preserve scrap tire markets.

According to the RMA, EPA’s rule allows annually generated scrap tires that are removed from vehicles to be used as fuel by an industrial facility. Cement kilns, pulp and paper mills and electric utilities are the major users of tire derived fuel (TDF).

In its proposed rule, EPA recommended that annually generated tires be processed to remove the metal before being considered a fuel under the Clean Air Act. However, that provision would have merely increased the energy consumption, air emissions and costs associated with delivering TDF to industrial customers without any environmental benefit.

RMA recognizes that EPA still requires that processing of whole tires removed from historical scrap tire stockpiles. RMA continues to encourage EPA to consider a more expansive definition of processing to allow whole tires to be combusted as tire derived fuel. The association also says that it is evaluating the final rule for additional insights and impacts on the tire industry.

“EPA clearly listened to the arguments advocated by RMA and other key stakeholders to deliver a rule that ensures continued improvement in scrap tire management efforts in the U.S.,” says Charles Cannon, RMA president and CEO. “While we are still analyzing several aspects of this final rule, the big picture is that this is a victory for the environment and for RMA’s scrap tire advocacy efforts.