HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7111 A
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7111
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 22, 1986
Subject: LEASE OF NORTHEAST SANITARY LANDFILL FOR THE RECYCLING PROJECT
Northeast Sanitary Landfill is a 91 acre site located at 6901 Randol Mill Road
that was operated by the City of Fort Worth from 1967 until September 30, 1982.
While it was operated, 433,879 tons of waste were disposed there in an area covering
approximately 33 acres. A closure plan for this site was submitted to and approved
by the Texas Department of Health in December 1983. The Solid Waste Management
Division maintains the site's final contours, side slopes, and approved drainage
patterns in accordance with the filed closure plan.
Since ending disposal operations there, a portion of the unfilled area in the
northern part of the site has been leased to the Eastside Athletic Association
for their activities. Four baseball fields including fencing, lighting, and other
improvements have been constructed by that organization and other projects are
planned. Southwest Radio Controlled Flying Club, a model airplane club, is also
using an area on top of the landfill to fly club airplanes. A continuing objective
has been to identify and pursue possible uses of the site that will benefit the
public and potentially produce revenues.
OP-) TIRE DISPOSAL PROBLE14
It has been estimated that Fort Worth residents and businesses discard more than
500,000 used tires each year.. More than three million tires are estimated to be
discarded in the North Texas area. Most landfills either specifically prohibit
disposal of tires or discourage disposal of tires by charging relatively high
disposal fees. A $5 disposal charge per tire is representative of the fees charged.
Discarded tires are virtually impossible to handle in normal landfill operations
because they cannot be compacted and when buried tend to work themselves to the
surface creating voids in the ground. As subsidence occurs these areas must be
filled and compacted to prevent ponding and other conditions conducive for breeding
of mosquitos and rodents. Studies have indicated that the majority of tires are
currently being disposed of in rural areas in unpermitted landfill operations.
As more stringent enforcement is being done because of new State and Federal
regulations these unpermitted sites are being closed. More and more tires are
being discarded along city and county roads in undeveloped areas.
It is estimated that city crews collected 12,000 used tires from illegal dump sites
located throughout Fort Worth in 1985. The tires collected were hauled to a city
landfill for disposal . It is believed that many of the tires illegally disposed
of come from tire dealers and service stations who do not have an economical and
dependable means to dispose of used tires, but must rely on tire salvagers who
may take what they can sell and dispose of the remainder along roadsides, in city
parks, and other places where they should not be. The lack of a dependable and
economical means to dispose of used tires is a problem that affects everyone in
the community.
PROPOSED TIRE RECYCLING PROJECT
Tire Energy, Inc. , a company formed by a group of local investors, has approached
the City about constructing a scrap tire processing facility at Northeast Sanitary
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
°
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7 111 Page 2
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council April 22, 1986
Subject: LEASE OF NORTHEAST SANITARY LANDFILL FOR THE RECYCLING PROJECT
Landfill . The project would consist of collecting and sorting discarded tires.
Those casings suitable for regrooving or recapping would be sold. Those not suitable
for recycling would be processed through a tire chipper which produces medium sized
chips that would be sold as a fuel . In addition to the revenue derived from the
sale of reusable casings and rubber chips, a fee would be charged for each tire
that the company collected or received for processing. It is projected that when
fully operational , the company will need to process 4,000 to 5,000 tires daily
or approximately 1 ,200,000 annually.
Tire Energy, Inc. will enter into agreements with tire retailers and other generators
of scrap tires for the hauling and disposal of their discarded tires. Public
collection points may be established in cooperation with the City of Fort Worth,
other municipalities and landfills. The company plans to utilize 40 cubic yard
roll-off containers for the collection and hauling of tires from collection points
to the processing facility. Approximately fifteen truck movements are anticipated
each day to and from the facility.
Tire Energy, Inc. will charge a disposal fee for accepting each discarded tire.
Fees are projected to range from $1 for smaller car tires to $2.50 for larger truck
tires. Volume discounts may be allowed based upon the condition and size of tires
processed from each customer. The company also proposes to accept an agreed upon
number of tires from the City at no cost. The Texas Department of Health has been
contacted and sees no problem with this use. The staff would recommend entering
into an agreement with Tire Energy, Inc.
If City Council is in agreement with this concept, a lease agreement will be prepared
for your consideration at a later date.
T,^Douglas Harman
-ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS