Oregon DEQ seeks comments on permit renewal for tire recycler

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is proposing to issue a permit renewal to Tire Disposal & Recycling (TDR) for its tire storage and recycling facility in Portland. Before issuing the permit the DEQ is seeking comments from interested parties.

TDR’s Portland facility acts as a waste tire storage and carrier facility, accepting waste tires that are resold, recycled or processed and converted into tire derived fuel (TDF) and other products. The company operates on about five acres.

All tire processing is conducted inside a 36,000-square-foot building. Additionally, prior to processing, old tires are stored inside the building. The company does store some tires that are earmarked for resale outside.

Any tires stored for more than 30 days are stacked on pallets to prevent any vector sustenance and standing water. Tires are unloaded on the west side of the building and sent through a series of conveyer belts according to their type, size and eventual use. If the tires arrive on a rim, the rim is removed using a specialized machine. The rims are stored outside in drop boxes before being transferred to a recycling facility.

The site was formerly the home of TPS Technologies, which previously accepted and treated contaminated soils. TPS’s treatment kiln was removed and the associated natural gas lines were decommissioned prior to TDR’s occupation of the site.

According to the DEQ the facility has no outstanding compliance issues. Further, as required by law, TDR maintains financial assurance sufficient to cover costs in the event of an unforeseen facility closure.

The DEQ says that it has determined that TDR can continue to meet DEQ permitting requirements and proposes to issue the renewal permit.

There is an extensive area of greenways and a buffer around the property occupied by TDR, which helps in the maintenance and guidance of stormwater.

In addition, TDR has installed an ecology block barrier to divert stormwater runoff along the southern boundary of the west-side storage area. The barrier acts to hydraulically separate the production building’s west side, outside area from stormwater that will enter the city’s collection system. It was also designed to prevent pyrolytic oil produced in a fire from entering the storm water system.

To comment on the permit renewal, contact the Bonnie Wakefield, DEQ’s NWR Solid Waste Permit Coordinator, at deqnwr.solidwastepermitcoordinator@deq.state.or.us

To view details about the company and the permit, click here.