News Release Archive
NEWS RELEASE (CNS784) -->> ENVIRONMENT--TIRE RECYCLING PROGRAM ANNOUNCED ENVIRONMENT--TIRE RECYCLING PROGRAM ANNOUNCED ----------------------------------------------------------------- Nova Scotia's long-term strategy to enhance the environment and create jobs got another boost today. Environment Minister Wayne Adams and Derek Firth, acting general manager of the Resource Recovery Fund Board Inc., announced that Nova Scotia will begin a comprehensive tire recycling program Jan. 2, 1997. "The recycling of tires is an important step in our efforts to clean up the environment and create sustainable jobs," said the minister. "In Nova Scotia, more than 900,000 tires a year are discarded, with most of them ending up in landfills or being stockpiled, posing fire, health and environmental hazards. Under this program, used tires will be recycled into marketable products," Mr. Firth said. An agreement has been signed between Resource Recovery Fund Board Inc. and Tire Recycling Atlantic Canada Corporation (TRACC). The company will construct and operate a tire recycling plant in Nova Scotia at a cost of about $3.3 million. Doug Vicars of TRACC said his company will make this investment on its own without any government financial participation. The program will create between 50-75 jobs. The total payroll contribution to the economy is expected to be in excess of $1.4 million annually. The company is in the final stages of determining the plant location. The contract stipulates that the plant must be operational by June 30, 1997. TRACC was selected to operate the tire recycling program following a competitive evaluation process, based on maximizing the environmental and economic benefits to Nova Scotia. A ban of disposal of tires in landfills and incinerators will coincide with the Jan. 2 start-up of the recycling program. A stewardship agreement will be arranged between the tire industry and the Resource Recovery Fund. As part of the province-wide strategy, the tire industry will remit a $3 environmental fee, for automobile and light truck tires, to the Resource Recovery Fund Board, which will manage the program. The fee for larger tires will be $9. -30- Contact: Paul McEachern 902-424-2575 NOTE TO EDITORS: Fact sheet is available by calling 1-800-670-4357 or 1-902-424-4492. trp Nov. 12, 1996 - 11:10 a.m.