|
Tire recycling program begins |
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 22 November 2006 |
The Northern Montana Joint Refuse District (NMJRD) in cooperation with the local tire shops has started a tire-recycling program.
The NMJRD is providing semi-truck trailers to be used as containers for the tire disposal from the Tire Depot owned by Verm Reum in Polson. “Once loaded, the trailer unit will be picked up and taken to Polson for recycling,” says Craig Crockett of the Tire Depot.
Bill Forrest, NMJRD landfill manager, commented, “This is being done to promote recycling and to extend the life of the landfill.”
To get rid of your old worn out tires, call Widhalm at 278-3422 or Lylte at 278-5524 during regular business hours. The container for Conrad Tire is located on their shop property across the street from the main office building. Tires can be taken to the shop at Mountain View Co-op. Their container has been placed at a different location.
Regular passenger vehicle or light truck tires (no rims) will be taken in for $3 and semi-truck tires will be $10. For now, tractor tires will still go to the local landfill.
Once the tires are in Polson, some will be re-sold; others will be made into rubber mulch, which are chunks between one-half and 1-½ inches.
A by-product of the mulch is Crum rubber which is much finer and has more specialized uses, such as installing synthetic turf, horse racing surfaces, put down in horse centers and in various forms can be used in roadway construction.
 I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Crockett noted, “It can be used at home or business, parks and recreation businesses.”
For example, if you have ever been to Disneyworld and marveled at how manicured and neat looking everything is – you guessed it – recycled rubber mulch.
Mayor John Shevlin noted, “Using recycled rubber aids the environment by utilizing a raw material which has been a difficult disposal problem.” Forrest echoed that, noting, “Used tires is one of the difficult environmental problems in the world today.”
There are about 250 million passenger tires that need to be recycled in the U.S. annually. It takes about 300 passenger tires to make a ton.
Some benefits or recycled rubber is that it is nontoxic, long lasting, retards weeds, resists mold and mildew, and is a big deterrent to insects and rodents.
Forrest commented, “If the public wants to dispose of tires, they can contact the landfill, which is located just off the Valier Highway, or call 278-3095, for information regarding tire disposal in the containers.” |
