CalRecycle Steps Up Efforts To Stem Unpermitted “Exportation” Activities

At its October public meeting, the California Department of Resource Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) discussed its efforts to address unpermitted and illegal activities occurring as a result of the growing export business in the state that is diverting scrap tires to overseas markets. Stakehokders at the meeting said the export of scrap tires from California is being led by a network of brokers who solicit haulers, owners of unpermitted sites and operators of permitted facilities to bale tires and transport the bales to ports in Northern and Southern California for shipment to Chinese tire fuel markets. Among the issues CalRecycle is looking into, are haulers, companies and individuals operating without permits that are “part of the exportation business.”

Trailer weight is something else CalRecycle is looking into. According to reports the agency has received from California processors and tire-derived product manufacturers, there are companies sending out overloaded trailers from their facilities under directives from the export brokers demanding containers be heavier than the legal weight.

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California tire processors, recyclers and other stakeholders who operate with proper permits have lodged numerous complaints with CalRecycle calling for both enforce- ment and oversight of the rapidly expanding export business in the state saying it is driving down tip fees and eroding the once robust tire flow that feeds scrap tire processing, recycling and products manufacturing facilities in the state.

For its part, CalRecycle said the state is stepping up its inspection and enforcement of tire sites and facilities operating without a permit. The agency reports an increase in permit applications as a result.

On the transport side, members of California’s scrap tire recycling industry have called on CalRecycle to work more closely with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and alert them when there are complaints of overloaded trailers transporting baled tires to ports.

CalRecycle’s enforcement officials have also developed a Special Bulletin dealing with Baled Waste Tire Permitting Storage and Hauling requirements. The bulletin was sent out by CalRecycle to remind tire stakeholders about the regulations affecting baling operations.

Storage Facility permit. Before such permits can be issued, they require, among other things, an inspection and approval by local fire authorities. The Bulletin sets forth the process state inspectors use to bring about permitting compliance when an inspection finds more than 499 tires at a site.

In addition, the agency is accepting suggestions from stakeholders on the quickest way to shut down illegal tire facilities that are storing more than 499 scrap tires.

© Scrap Tire News, November 2011