Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Waste Management Tires topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Recyclers propose regional tire-shredding hub; seek Jefferson County cooperation
Summary
A group that runs tire-shredding and recycling operations in Idaho asked Jefferson County to partner on centralized collection and short-term holding of shredded tires, offering options that the county said it will study while checking costs and operational details.
A company that operates tire shredding and recycling facilities in Idaho told Jefferson County commissioners it is seeking cooperation from area landfills to create a regional tire-collection and processing system, including a potential drop point in Pocatello and a mobile shredding-and-bury option while markets expand.
The presenters said their business already collects and shreds large volumes of passenger tires in the Treasure Valley and nearby Idaho markets and is pursuing markets for tire-derived products — including tire-derived fuel (TDF), tire-derived aggregate (TDA) and a fine “chrome rubber” infill used in artificial turf. The presenters told commissioners those markets have reduced the number of tires going to landfills in areas where the company operates.
Why it matters: County landfills currently export most tires out of state at substantial cost. A regional collection-and-shred system could lower per-tire disposal costs, create local supply for recycled products and reduce illegal dumping, but would require coordination among multiple landfills, regulatory approvals and startup logistics.
Presenters described two operational approaches: (1) establish centralized collection sites and haul tires to a fixed facility (the company said it has made an offer on property in Pocatello) and (2) bring a mobile shredder to a centralized pile of tires large enough to justify moving the equipment, then bury shredded material temporarily while markets and off-take agreements develop. Company representatives said a mobile unit can shred roughly 80 tons per day and that the mobile operation can cost about $4,000 per day to operate. They estimated front-end collection and handling costs could run roughly $1–$2 per tire in a favorable host arrangement but noted actual county tip fees and transport savings would affect final pricing.
County commissioners and landfill staff asked for specifics on costs and operational limits. Commissioner Hancock pressed the presenters on per-ton and per-tire costs and on how many tires the county currently processes. County staff explained current export costs to Liberty Tire in Salt Lake City and said the county will compare those figures to any new proposal.
Presenters and staff discussed regulatory constraints. The presenters said Idaho’s environmental regulator (DEQ) will allow temporary on-site piles when the county submits an operations plan and schedules removal; speakers also discussed that some landfills use shredded tires as alternative daily cover (ADC) and that some markets accept tire-derived materials for civil-engineering uses.
The company offered that, if Jefferson County participates, the county could receive a portion of shredded material back for on-site uses (for example, as aggregate for road bases or pads), provided logistics and transport methods (commodity trailers or self-dumping trailers) are feasible. Commissioners said they were interested in further information — particularly an itemization of the county’s current tire volumes by month, transport costs to Salt Lake City, and a written operations plan showing how any short-term burial and long-term diversion would be managed.
Ending: Commissioners did not take a formal vote. County staff said they will track the company’s follow-up details, review the county’s tire volume and cost data, and take the proposal under further consideration with neighboring landfills and the county’s DEQ contact.
