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Firestone's Scrap Tire Management Practices Praised

21 September 2000

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Houston Police Department Praise Firestone's Scrap Tire Management Practices

             Company Unveils Incentive Program for Tire Resellers

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 21 Bridgestone/Firestone this
month received high praise for its scrap tire management efforts from both the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Houston Police
Department.
    Bridgestone/Firestone's fact sheet for the "Recalled Scrap Tire Management
Plan" -- which was developed to help the EPA understand the management of the
increasing number of scrap tires resulting from the August 9th voluntary
recall of certain ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT tires -- was among the
projects praised by Karl E. Bremer, Chief of the Region 5 Waste Management
Branch of the EPA.  "Sharing this information with environmental regulators
throughout the U.S. will undoubtedly help clear up any misunderstandings that
may result from such a massive effort," Bremer said.
    Similarly, the scrap tire management practices of many Firestone Tire and
Service Centers in Houston were praised by Sgt. Michael Walsh of the Houston
Police Department's Environmental Investigations Unit.  The goal of the
Investigations Unit was to ensure that the tires entering the scrap tire
system of Houston were managed properly.  Describing the stores as "squeaky
clean," Sgt. Walsh concluded that each Firestone Center knew who would be
collecting its scrap tires and how they would be managed.  He was also
impressed by the quality of record keeping at Firestone stores, finding that
the disposition of the tires was readily available at each one.  "The non-
Firestone facilities that were investigated in conjunction with this project
couldn't hold a candle to Firestone's facilities," Walsh said.
    Last Monday, Bridgestone/Firestone also announced a program that will
provide incentives to used tire resellers who arrange for voluntarily recalled
tires to be returned to the company.  The Bridgestone/Firestone Used Tire
Return Program will pay a used tire dealer $10.00 per tire when the dealer
completes an Inventory Return Form and the recalled tires are shipped back to
Bridgestone/Firestone or are shredded at the tire reseller's place of
business.
    For many years, Bridgestone/Firestone has worked nationwide with tire
recycling industries, state regulators, and municipalities to support tire
recycling efforts.  The company has a longstanding system in place to collect
scrap tires and put them to environmentally friendly uses in all available
markets.  Bridgestone/Firestone tires are recycled into asphalt, cement, floor
mats, soaker hoses, and molded rubber products.  Additionally, the company's
shredded tires are used as a lightweight thermal insulation and stabilizing
material for construction and drainage.  Bridgestone/Firestone tires are also
used for fuel in every region of the U.S., and the company continues to
investigate other environmentally beneficial end uses for its recycled tires.