© Ten percent of this asphalt blend is melted down car and truck tires.SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
In the 90's the EPA says scrap tires used to stack up in landfills and "provided breeding grounds for mosquitoes and rodents." Only about 17% of tires were repurposed. Now, it's around 80%.
"Athletic fields they're being used in, playgrounds they're being used in. Where ever they can find a source for them to be used, that's beneficial to the public," said Noel Schulz.
Schulz works with Jebro Inc., and together with Barkley Asphalt, the two are working on what may look like average blacktop on Sioux City's north side, but it's a whole lot greener. Ten percent of it is melted down car and truck tires.
The batch is repaving West 19th, from Helmer Street to Center Street. Sioux City got a special rate for no additional cost, but processing tires makes the asphalt blend cost about 2% more on average. Schulz says that's made up for by the tire blend's benefits like; flexibility, fewer pot holes, and maybe an up to 20% longer life span.
"It depends on the job and the design and the type of traffic. Some of these roads are definitely lasting longer, giving better performance, and improve life," said Schulz.
Schulz says they've used the blend in other parts of the country. It's a first for Sioux City, and officials think it was a good choice.
"This is a major road that serves West High School. We hope that this lasts longer so that we don't have to touch it for quite a while," said Sioux City Civil Engineer Eric Smith.
The project is expected to be complete in November. Officials estimate it will use about 1,200 tires. Iowa, typically generates about 3 million tires a year.
