MUA Qualifies Multiple Tire-Recycling Vendors

SWAINTON – The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority passed a resolution qualifying three tire-recycling vendors during the regular meeting on Nov. 20. By utilizing Rubbercycle, Absolute Automotive-Truck Salvage Company and Carbon Industrial Services, the Authority will be able to take advantage of lower costs based on tire type and tonnage.
The Authority advertised two Requests for Proposals for Recycling Services and/or Beneficial Use of Scrap Tires June 28 and Oct. 11. No responsive proposals were received for either solicitation. That being the case, Howard Long, general counsel for the Authority, advised, “the contract may then be negotiated and awarded by the governing body without public advertising.”
After confirming the absence of vendors in close proximity, the Authority then contacted all private licensed and permitted facilities within a serviceable distance.
Rubbercycle’s proposed fees include car and light-duty truck tires delivered to the facility at $100 per ton or $500 per ton for loads containing more than 50 percent truck, tractor trailer, loader, or airplane tires.
Absolute Automotive-Truck Salvage Company’s proposed fees include $275 per ton for tires delivered with excessive dirt or mud, as well as $175 per ton for tires ranging in size from 13 inches to tractor trailer-sized.
Finally, Carbon Industrial Services will provide a trailer to be loaded by the Authority for $256 per ton. A minimum load of 17 tons per pick up shall be required and all size tires will be accepted.
“It’s kind of a squirrelly type of industry,” Solid Waste Program Manager and Deputy Director said John Baron while explaining the need for multiple vendors. “One week they may tell us they don’t have any room for tires, the next week they’ll say ‘can you send us some tires.’ There are not a lot of people doing this type of work out there.”
Once collected, the tires are shredded and used in arena footing, as playground mulch, and for fuel purposes.
Also discussed was the Monthly Wastewater Program Report. Wastewater Program Manager Thomas Lauletta said operators and staff were busy with repairs and upgrades over the past month. He also said that radio communication at all pumping stations had been completed, with the exception of Stone Harbor Boulevard and Stone Harbor Manor.
“We believe that by the end of this year we’ll have gotten rid of all of our landlines and be completely on radio,” said Lauletta.
Lauletta also described what he called “an interesting month,” for the Compost Facility. In addition to repairs, a small fire started at one of the compost piles Nov. 17. “It just got hot and one of the sections may have had some sludge in there that didn’t have enough chips in it or wasn’t aerated right,” Lauletta explained.
Executive Director Charles Norkis said that while a fire in that particular area was very unusual, the workers should be praised for responding so quickly.
To contact Kirby Reed, email kreed@cmcherald.com.