California Chips in for RAC Projects: State Awards $311,627 to Maintain Rubber Roads and Protect the Environment

SACRAMENTO--The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) approved $311,627 in chip seal grants for the cities of National City, Napa, and West Sacramento to use rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) in road repair and maintenance projects. These projects will divert more than 5,000 waste tires from landfills, furthering efforts to reduce waste and protect our environment.

"It’s very encouraging to see communities seeking out innovative uses for recycled materials, in this case tires," said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. "California is a leader when it comes to all things innovative and recycling should always be a goal."

At the March 18 meeting, the Board approved grants in the RAC Chip Seals Grant Program for the City of National City in San Diego County ($150,000); the City of Napa in Napa County ($96,627); and the City of West Sacramento in Yolo County ($65,000). Funds from this program help first-time and/or ongoing users of RAC chip seals offset the costs of using RAC in lieu of conventional asphalt paving materials to repair and/or maintain roads. The program is funded from the $1.75 disposal fee levied on each new tire sold in California. The Board receives $1.00 of each $1.75 fee, and the remainder is used for tire-related air emission programs.

Studies have shown RAC to be a long-lasting replacement for conventional asphalt concrete, while also significantly reducing the level of traffic noise in surrounding neighborhoods. Moreover, RAC resists cracking, retains its original color so that road markings are more clearly visible, and has the potential to reduce the number and size of illegal waste tire collections in California.

Made by blending rubber from recycled waste tires with asphalt, and then applying the mix to road surfaces, RAC has been successfully used in street paving projects by state and local transportation agencies throughout California and Arizona.

"These grants provide funds to local governments for much needed road improvements," said Brown. "Increasing the use of rubberized asphalt concrete not only helps divert tires, but also provides quieter, longer-lasting roads."

California produces more than 40 million waste tires annually. Although approximately 75 percent of this amount is diverted from landfill disposal, the state faces the challenge of dealing with roughly 10 million surplus tires annually, the majority of which ends up in landfills and some in illegal stockpiles. Over the past few years, California has recycled nearly 10 million waste tires with RAC paving projects.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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