Next Steps for EPR in MA

1. Connecticut Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection

2. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Tires and the Benefits of Extended
Producer Responsibility
March 29, 2016
Tom Metzner
MassRecycle R3 Conference, Quincy, Massachusetts

3. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Current Northeast Market Situation for Tires
• Most go to pulp mills in Maine for tire derived
fuel (prices paid for processed tires are way
down)
• Some crumb rubber (CRM in Albany)
• Minimal product recycling
• No long term contracts for CT processors
• MA contracts more secure
• Competition for existing tire capacity is
geographically large (Michigan sending tires to
Maine)

4. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Scrap Tire Management Options
• Market Based – CT, VT, MA, 14 other states
– Generator pays the market rate for disposal options
• State Run – 33 states
– State operated program
– License haulers
– Financed by fee on the sale of tires or vehicle
registrations
• EPR – no US states
– Manufacturers assume financial responsibility for
managing scrap tires

5. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Stockpiling versus Illegal Dumping
Example of Illegal Stockpiling,
North Haven CT Tire Pond
Example of Illegal Dumping, Off
I-95, Westport

6. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Impact on Illegal Dumping
• EPR
– Virtual elimination of illegal
dumping in Ontario and
British Columbia attributed
to the EPR program
– Eliminating the tipping fee
eliminates the primary
reason for illegal dumping

7. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Impact on Illegal Dumping
• State Run Program
– Minimal impact on illegal dumping through
amnesty days
– Designed to pay for cleanup of stockpiles, not
current illegal dumping
• Market Based
– No effect on illegal dumping and may encourage it
because illegal dumping is related to higher
tipping fees. Higher fees means more illegal
dumping

8. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Private Sector Job Creation
• EPR
– Encourages recycling which
creates more jobs than
incineration
– 200 jobs created in Ontario
(TDF prohibited)
– 50 – 100 jobs projected for CT
– Sends signal to investors that
recycling will have a level
playing field with incineration

9. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Private Sector Job Creation
• State Run Program
– While many state run programs invest in market
development, few jobs are actually created
because of cheaper disposal options
• Market Based
– TDF is the cheapest disposal so few recycling jobs
created
– TDF keeps recycling investment on the sidelines

10. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Impact on Recycling
• EPR
– Limits or prohibits TDF
which increases
recycling
– Greater environmental
benefits from recycling
• Greenhouse gas
emissions
• Energy use
• acidification

11. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Impact on Recycling
• State Run Program
– Minimal through procurement, grants, assistance
– Not able to create demand for products
• Market based
– Favors cheapest disposal option which is TDF
– TDF plants will describe their operations as
recycling, or seek renewable energy credits

12. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Program Costs
• EPR
– Ontario charges $2.65
(US dollars) per
passenger tire, more for
larger tires
– BC charges $3.85 per
passenger tire
– Low administration cost -
6% (Ontario)

13. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Summary
• EPR as a scrap tire
management strategy
– Eliminates illegal dumping
– Creates private sector jobs
– Promotes recycling with all
the benefits associated
– Comparable in price to
other management
options when including
disposal costs

14. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
For More Information
• Ontario Tire Stewardship
• British Columbia Tire Stewardship
• Long Term Management Options for Scrap
Tires Generated in Connecticut final 2-17-
16.pdf

15. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Contact Information
Tom Metzner
Email – tom.Metzner@ct.gov
Phone – (860) 424-3242