Reklaim seeks to renew its permit to operate its tire recycling facility.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comments on a proposed draft waste tire storage site permit renewal for Reklaim Inc., which operates a tire recycling facility in Boardman, Ore.
Reklaim was first issued a permit by the DEQ to operate a waste storage facility on March, 20, 2008. The permit has expired, but has been administratively extended because DEQ received a timely renewal application.
Reklaim’s original permit allowed the company to take in whole tires for processing. The company currently accepts pre-shredded, metal-free, tire crumbs in super sacks. No whole waste tires are being accepted at the present time.
However, as part of its permit renewal request, Reklaim is looking to take in whole tires for processing. Under the proposed permit, Reklaim would continue to have the ability to receive and store whole passenger tires that would be processed under the DEQ solid waste treatment permit into pre-shredded tire crumb that would be converted into carbon black, heating oil, steel and mineral oxides using pyrolysis technology.
The DEQ is inviting public comment on the proposed permitting action. During the comment period the public is invited to make comments related to specific conditions within the proposed permit.
Upon issuance, this permit will be effective for five year, expiring on Jan. 1, 2018.
Currently, DEQ is developing new rules for conversion technology facilities such as Reklaim’s tire pyrolysis facility. The new rules will establish new performance standards and solid waste permit requirements for facilities that convert waste into chemicals, fuels, products or energy.
At this time, DEQ is delaying action on the Reklaim, Inc. treatment facility permit renewal application until new rules are developed. However, DEQ is proceeding with renewal of Reklaim’s solid waste tire storage site permit.
During its first permit term, Reklaim suspended the shredding operation to focus on establishing a viable pyrolysis (thermal processing) operation for the recovery of carbon black and oil products. Reklaim is currently in phase I of a three-phase building process, each phase resulting in an increase in plant capacity. Tires may be shipped to the facility in 30 foot trailers and would remain in the trailer until they are fed to the reclamation process.
Reklaim’s current operating scenario is the purchase of pre-shredded metal-free tire crumb. However, as Reklaim continues to refine and develop its pyrolysis operations, Reklaim says that it intends to begin shredding tires. The shredder uses low-speed knives to shred the waste tires into small pieces. A small amount of water is added to act as a lubricant and heat sink. Adequate shredding capacity will be added in Phase III of construction if it is economically feasible.
Following the shredding, the material is dried in a fluid bed vibratory dryer. The dryer is sized to accommodate all three phases of construction. During Phase I the dryer will be heated by natural gas. By Phase III the dryer will be heated by steam and hot water generated from recovered process heat. The dryer has a baghouse to capture small pieces of fiber and rubber released during shredding and drying. During Phase I and Phase II, the material collected in the baghouse will be disposed of in an approved landfill.
During Phase III the captured material may be returned to the process.
The dried feedstock is conveyed to a weight belt feeder, and then pneumatically sent to the thermal processor. A cyclone at the end of the pneumatic conveying line separates the feedstock from the conveying airstream. The air exits the cyclone through a close-weave filter to capture any remaining particles.
All submittals to the Department under this section must be sent to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Manager, Solid Waste Program, 400 E. Scenic Drive, Suite 307, The Dalles, Ore., 97058.