Toronto Environmental Alliance

For the past few years, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment has considered a plan that will see used tires burned, instead of recycled.

Burning tires that can be recycled makes no environmental sense. Just as when garbage is burned, burning used tires creates a huge amount of toxic emissions. And burning also makes no economic sense, especially if local jobs can be created recycling used tires.

In 2004 TEA was leaked the confidential proposal to burn tires, which was being submitted to the Minister by the Waste Diversion Organization, an armslength government advisory board charged with diverting Ontario's waste.

Since then, it's unclear what the Province will do.

What is clear, however, is what it should do: it should ban the burning of used tires and ensure used tires are recycled.

For more information on the used tire issue:

• Click here for TEA's 2004 press release.
• Open the attachment below called "TEA Tire Backgrounder" on the impacts of burning tires, the highlights of the tire burning proposal, and recommendations for tire recycling.
• Open the attachment below called "WDO Proposal" for the report written by the Waste Diversion Organization to the Minister.