The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has revoked the waste tyre facility permit of Global Waste Management Inc., a tyre recycling company in South San Francisco. Following a lengthy investigation, CalRecycle says it determined the company was storing an excessive number of scrap tyres, storing tyres near flammable materials and using an unregistered hauler to ship tyres. After an administrative hearing, a hearing officer upheld the revocation for three years and ordered Global Waste Management to pay a $30,000 fine, CalRecycle reports.
“Our responsibility is to ensure waste tyre facilities operate in a safe and compliant manner to protect the surrounding community,” says Caroll Mortensen, CalRecycle director. “Improperly stored waste tyres are a serious threat to human health and the environment.”
Tyre recycling facilities that store 500 to 4,999 scrap tyres at a time must have a minor waste tyre facility permit, while those with 5,000 or more waste tyres need a major waste tyre facility permit and are regulated more stringently.
In December 2012, Global Waste was issued a minor waste tyre facility permit. In February and March 2013, CalRecycle inspectors visited the site, counted scrap tyre bales, ultimately estimating more than 11,000 scrap tyres were on the property during the first visit and 17,000 scrap tyres during the second visit. CalRecycle ultimately issued Global Waste Management a cleanup and abatement order to reduce and maintain the scrap tyre count allowed by its waste tyre facility permit.
However, during future inspections, the facility again exceeded its waste tyre limit, according to CalRecycle, at one time having about 21,000 scrap tyres on site. Other violations included not providing access to the facility’s operation plans, emergency response plan and fire prevention measures, as required by law, the agency says. During one inspection, flammable material was stored within 40 feet of the tyres. In cooperation with the California Highway Patrol, CalRecycle says it also determined Global Waste had used an unregistered hauler to transport tyres from its facility to the Port of Oakland.
Global Waste had until March 23, 2014, to appeal the final revocation ruling but declined to do so.