Making California Roads Quieter and Safer: State Provides $150,000 to Improve the Ride and the Environment

SACRAMENTO--The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) approved a $150,000 incentive grant for the City of Monterey Park to use rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC). This alternative to traditional asphalt utilizes approximately 2,000 recycled tires per lane mile, diverting them from landfills and protecting our environment.

"It’s very encouraging to see communities seeking products designed from 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."

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. Over its lifetime, a two-inch layer of the material can save up to $50,000 per lane mile compared to a 4-inch thick layer of conventional asphalt.

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.

"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."

At the March 18 meeting, the Board approved a grant in the RAC Incentive Program of $150,000 for the City of Monterey Park (Los Angeles County).

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.

Funds from the Board's Targeted Rubberized Asphalt Concrete Incentive Grant Program help first-time and/or limited RAC users cover the difference in costs of using RAC in lieu of conventional asphalt paving. 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.

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.

Waste tires create several environmental health hazards if landfilled or illegally stockpiled. Piles can collect water, creating breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, rodents and other vermin while also posing a high fire risk. Tire fires are difficult to extinguish, and create heavy smoke and toxic runoff into waterways.

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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