Environmental Protection
DeMaio Highlights Program for Free Used Tire Recycling
June 18, 2009
SAN DIEGO –City Councilmember Carl DeMaio today drew attention to a city program offering free used tire recycling to reduce illegal disposal at landfills. The Waste Tire Amnesty recycling event is an opportunity for residents to easily drop off their used tires at a convenient location.
“Promoting and supporting clean and safe neighborhoods throughout our city is one of my top priorities,” said Councilmember DeMaio. “Recycling is a significant element of this—yet most San Diegans are unaware that their used tires have value or how to recycle them.”
The event will be take place on June 20th from 9am to 2pm and be held at Mira Mesa High School, 10510 Reagan Road, 92126. Drop off of used tires at the event is free and open to city residents only. While no business waste is accepted, residents can dispose up to 20 passenger car and pick-up tires. No rims, rimmed tires, semi-truck or tractor tires will be accepted.
San Diego municipal code prohibits the dumping of tires in the Miramar landfill unless they are permanently reduced in volume by shredding or cutting. While the amnesty event is free, residents are typically assessed a fee of $50 for disposing loads of shredded or cut tires in addition to regular disposal fees.
Used tires collected from this event will be used as fuel for a cement plant in Colton, CA. The tires replace coal in cement kilns which lowers Nitrogen Oxide or Nox emissions. Waste tires are also a resource that can be recycled into roadways, playgrounds, tiles and other rubber products.
DeMaio added, “I look forward to many San Diegans taking advantage of this convenient recycling opportunity that allows us to reuse functional resources and decrease the amount of trash we generate.”
Waste Tire Amnesty Day is sponsored by the city’s Development Services Department and the Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency. It is funded by the City of San Diego and a grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board.
Over the past ten years, this statewide effort has developed programs and markets that have diverted from our landfills more than 70% of the 44 Million tires generated each year in California.
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