Opinions differ on proposed scrap tire bill for NJ

A bill being considered by New Jersey lawmakers would require all scrap tires to be recycled.

There’s some disagreement about how effective the legislation would be.

Frank Brill represents the Association of New Jersey Recyclers. He says there isn’t much of a market for recycled tires.

“The most common use now for used tires is chopping them up and using them fuel in a cement kiln or something like that. The can move, they don’t have to be discarded or piled up, but there really is no proven economic recycling market right now for these tires.”

Joe Matteo is the president of Magnus Environmental Corporation which has been recycling tires for 21 years. He says that the tires do have several uses including as replacement for “sand and stone in civil engineering applications.”

The legislation would require all scrap tire haulers to be licensed by the state. Matteo says that requirement would prevent illegal dumping of used tires in woodlands and streams.

New Jersey Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel agrees.

“We find tires being dumped all over the place,” said Tittel. “We need to make sure that these tires are getting recycled and there is enforcement and there are standards in place.”