News Conference: Georgia State Rep. Randy Nix and GDOT Celebrate Market-Based Solution for Recycling Scrap Tires

ATLANTA, Feb. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia state Rep. Randy Nix (69^th District) and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will hold a news conference to celebrate the result of efforts to amend the state's road construction specifications to include recycled tire rubber as an alternative to conventional oil-based polymers for asphalt production.  That move last year paved the way for the DOT to collaborate with a number of construction companies, including Reeves Construction Company, on projects planned for the 2013 paving season that will use millions of pounds of recycled rubber derived from Georgia's scrap tires.  The news conference will be held at 11 a.m. February 20, 2013 at GDOT's offices (One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta).

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"Tires are a problematic waste material in Georgia, and we're always looking for ways to improve our highways with new technologies and advanced formulations," said Rep. Nix, vice chairman of the Natural Resources and Environment Committee.  "Rubberized asphalt is a win-win for Georgia – not only because we now have an outlet for millions of scrap tires, but we have a perfect example of the progress we can make when we all work together."

Rep. Nix promised in April 2011 to find a solution to the scrap tire problem in Georgia.  After discussing the issue with experts from Liberty Tire Recycling, he worked hand in hand with GDOT last year to amend road specs.  GDOT seized the opportunity to work with asphalt innovators like Reeves Construction and now approves recycled rubber projects on a case-by-case basis.

"Our company has a long history of working with rubberized asphalt in Georgia, and testing in the past few years has proven that RTR can compete as a high-performance asphalt modifier," said Wayne Marshall, corporate quality control manager, Reeves Construction.  "Now that we have an approved specification, we'll be seeing a lot more rubberized asphalt on Georgia roads."

High-performance rubberized asphalt saves money by requiring less pavement thickness to withstand the same amount of traffic as conventional asphalt, as well as by replacing higher-cost oil-based polymers.  Rubberized asphalt also requires less maintenance over the life of the road.  To enhance safety, rubberized asphalt allows water to drain away from the roadway, thereby reducing splash and spray.  Rubberized asphalt also reduces the level of road noise for nearby residents by as much as 4 decibels. 

"We congratulate Rep. Nix and GDOT for embracing this technology and building longer-lasting, safer roads in Georgia," said Dick Gust, director of government affairs for Liberty Tire Recycling.  "Implementing rubberized asphalt takes out-of-the-box thinkers who recognize the opportunity to build an infrastructure that contributes to a sustainable future."

Liberty Tire Recycling has worked with state officials and community partners in recent years to clean up thousands of tires spread across illegal tire dumps throughout the city.  Illegal tire dumping is a major problem in Georgia, with $700,000 allocated in this year's budget just for cleanup.  If only 10 percent of Georgia's road projects were constructed with recycled tire rubber, all of the tires Georgians generate each year would be reclaimed and recycled.

For more information on Liberty Tire Recycling, visit www.libertytire.com.

About Liberty Tire Recycling    
Liberty Tire Recycling is the premier provider of tire recycling services in North America.  By recycling more than 140 million tires annually, Liberty Tire reclaims about 1.5 billion pounds of rubber for innovative, eco-friendly products.  The recycled rubber produced by Liberty Tire is used as crumb rubber and industrial feedstock for molded products; as tire-derived fuel for industrial kilns, mills and power plants; and as rubber mulch for landscaping and playgrounds.  The company maintains a nationwide network of processing plants, and comprehensive door-to-door collection services.  Liberty Tire Recycling is headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA.  For more information, please visit www.libertytire.com.

SOURCE Liberty Tire Recycling

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