The Rubber Manufacturers Assn. recently joined a coalition
to assist in reducing tire piles and developing a scrap tire recycling infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The project is being initiated by the Border Environmental Cooperative Commission (BECC), a group that works to develop solutions to environmental problems in a 62-mile region on either side of the US/Mexico border.
A newly formed ad hoc committee will investigate and recommend a solution to deal with millions of scrap tires located in the six Mexican states that border the United States. Recent work on the scrap tire situation in this area has focused on human health issues, but this new committee will address scrap tire management and economic development.
"The situation on the Mexican side of the border is very similar to the situation the U.S. faced in 1985, before scrap tire legislation and regulations were enacted," said Michael Blumenthal, RMA senior technical director. "Our proposal to improve the current situation in Mexico is to develop more comprehensive regulations and create low to medium-tech market opportunities to grow a scrap tire after-market infrastructure."
RMA’s efforts to create scrap tire markets in Mexico also will have a positive effect on the scrap tire situations in the four states that border Mexico -- Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. A majority of RMA tire manufacturer members operate in Mexico.
"We are very glad to be part of this important project and to have the opportunity to share the information and our experience," Blumenthal said. "The tire manufacturing industries in both countries are committed to resolving scrap tire issues along both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border region."