Don't Incentivize Toxic Tire Waste, it's not for Kids (Causes Cancer and Developmental Disorders)
- by: Mike Murphy
- recipient: Caroll Mortensen, Director: CalRecycle
CalRecycle (California Dept. of Resource Recycling and Recovery) pays municipalities to use waste tire products on childrens' playgrounds and playfields. These products are full of environmental toxins which are known to cause cancer and developmental disorders.
Recent coverage by NBC Nightly News has brought national attention to the toxicity of this material.
CalRecycle ignored a previous petition, signed by people from all over the world. Director Mortensen also ignored a direct appeal from the San Francisco Green Party and Concerned Parents and Coaches for Grass Fields in Golden Gate Park.
This fiscal year, CalRecycle will incentivize (give cash grants) for the use of waste tire products containing known Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals and Class 2A Carcinogens on children's playgrounds and playfields (Toxic Turf).
The 2014-15 program was rolled out November 7, 2014, less than a week from when CalRecycle was notified of Citizens' concerns about the program.
Applications for the program will be received through December 4. We need as many signers as possible to stop this unconscionable program. Please sign.
Caroll Mortensen, Director: CalRecycle
Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
1001 I Street--P.O. Box 4025
Sacramento, CA 95812-4025
Caroll.Mortensen@calrecycle.ca.gov
(916) 322-4025
Director Mortensen:
CalRecycle's 2014-15 Grant Program for Tire Derived Products includes the use of waste tire products known to contain Class 2A Carcinogens and Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals. Your department pays municipalities to use these products on children's playgrounds and playfields.
CalRecycle's Tire Derived Product Incentive Program is described as follows:
Tire Incentive Program
: The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) administers tire grant programs to provide opportunities to divert waste tires from landfill disposal, prevent illegal tire dumping, and promote markets for recycled-content tire products. The Tire Incentive Program (TIP) provides a reimbursement (as an incentive payment program) to eligible businesses that use (recycled) crumb rubber in eligible products or substitute crumb rubber for virgin rubber, plastic, or other raw materials in products. The program’s goal is to increase demand for crumb rubber and promote higher value products. (CalRecycle Website)
CalRecycle offers cash incentives to use SBR (waste tire) products on fields of play and play surfaces. Recent coverage by NBC Nightly News has brought national attention to the toxicity of this material.
A cancer cluster of soccer goalies in Washington state was cited as compelling anecdotal evidence to support claims that tire crumb is hazardous to human health. As a result, members of Congress and officials in other states are calling for more thorough investigation into the imminent health threat these materials pose.
Cash for trash business decisions are made by state and municipal authorities and others due to grant incentives from CalRecycle. This is clearly the case in San Francisco where San Francisco Rec and Park has twice found new field locations for incentivized tire crumb when construction at original grant locations lagged (2007/8, 2010/11).
This is unconscionable. Not one family should suffer the pain and heartbreak of a loved one's sickness due to chronic exposure to waste tire material because appointed officials want to pad their operating budgets.
Please delist from the grant program projects in which direct human contact with toxic tire derived product waste is common. We don't need or want environmental toxins in places where we play.
Thanks for your consideration.
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