The Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan (TSS), a non-profit organization that oversees the province’s scrap tire recycling program, recently announced a re-commitment to multiple processing centres — only to allow northern processor Shercom’s contract to lapse.
On April 26, 2023, Tire Stewardship of Saskatchewan (TSS) announced changes to its scrap tire processing program aimed at having multiple scrap tire processors, one in the south and one in the north.
TSS was established in June 2017 by the Retail Council of Canada and the Western Canada Tire Dealers to serve as the scrap tire recycling program operator in Saskatchewan. TSS operates under a Product Stewardship Program approved by the Ministry of Environment in December 2020.
A program review conducted by TSS in 2017 concluded that the industry needed to change to processors with established markets for higher-value end-use products in order to reduce the overall environmental impact and reduce reliance on incentive fees.
Saskatchewan tire retailers are mandated by legislation to set up and operate a recycling program, collect recycling fees from the consumer for each new tire sold, and use these fees to operate the program, which involves the collection, recycling, and processing of scrap tires into more environmentally friendly products.
Colin Fraser, board chair of TSS, said that "TSS is committed to running an efficient program on behalf of tire retailers and to encourage practices that lower the industry’s impact on the environment."
TSS selected Crumb Rubber Manufacturers (CRM) in 2022 in response to a request for proposals issued in 2021 for a second scrap tire processor in the southern part of the province.
CRM is expected to begin operations in Moose Jaw sometime in May.
CRM breaks down scrap tires to produce crumb rubber that can be used in asphalt, landscaping, and artificial turf. They have locations in California, Arizona, New York, Tennessee, Ontario, and Alberta.
TSS's contract with the existing northern processor, Shercom Industries, was allowed to expire on April 30, 2023. TSS will be issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a northern-based tire processor or processors and has encouraged Shercom to submit a proposal for a new contract.
Shercom, however, told media that they disagree with the decision. Shercom was established in Saskatchewan in 1993 and remains locally owned — Shane Olson, the founder and owner, accused TSS of bullying Shercom in contract negotiations only to then give a significant proportion of the province’s scrap tire resources to a US-based company.
TSS said in its release that the program efficiencies from multiple locations and lower fees will result in cost savings that TSS will use to clean up old tire piles around the province.
“TSS is moving the Saskatchewan tire processing industry forward,” said Stevyn Arnt, CEO of TSS, “based on rewarding innovation and the development of new products and new markets."
