The Cupertino Courier

State delays decision on tire burning

A committee of the California Integrated Waste Management Board in Sacramento postponed a policy decision about tire burning last Wednesday after receiving numerous complaints from environmental and citizen groups.

Nine members of the Cupertino-based West Valley Citizens Air Watch traveled to the capital for the three-hour meeting to protest the policy they said would support tire burning at plants around the state. Recently Air Watch's efforts played a role in Kaiser Cement's deciding not to pursue a tire-burning permit to replace coal as a fuel source in its cement kiln at the end of Stevens Creek Boulevard.

According to Air Watch members who attended, the waste management committee told the audience that the policy was not meant to support tire burning; the purpose was to propose tire burning as one possible way to eliminate used tires.

In public testimony, Air Watch members pointed to the wording of the measure, which said "the board adopts the policy to support the use of waste tires as a fuel supplement in cement kilns and coal-fired co-generation facilities."

The committee voted to postpone a decision until late January on the policy until the measure is reworded and some background reports are reviewed further.

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