Why are Nova Scotians still paying an environmental fee on tires

Tuesday December 12, 2006

Truro – NDP Environment Critic Michele Raymond wants Environment Minister Mark Parent to tell Nova Scotians why they are paying an environmental fee on tires sold in the province if the tires are going to be burned as an alternative fuel source in Quebec.

“In a media report on December 7 it was stated that ‘one of the places tires will be shipped is a cement plant in Quebec.’ If this is true, why are Nova Scotians still being asked to pay an environmental fee on tires sold in the province to subsidize the fuel requirements of a cement kiln in Quebec?� asks Raymond. “There is nothing environmental about burning tires as fuel and the Minister should take a stand to ensure Nova Scotia’s tire recycling program remains green.�

The RRFB took over the collection of tires on December 11, 2006 as Atlantic Recycled Rubber no longer holds the contract.

“Where are the excess tires being stockpiled?� asks Raymond.

Lafarge Canada has also made a tender to the Resource Recovery Fund Board, proposing to use tires as fuel in its Brookfield, Nova Scotia plant. Raymond is also calling on Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley MLA Brooke Taylor to defend his government’s policy of recycling tires.

“It’s time for this Minister and the local MLA to ensure that this province does not start permitting tires to be burned as fuel,� writes Raymond. “This would be an extraordinary regressive step in a day and age when we are attempting to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to clean up some of the worst environmental practices of the past.�

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