Montreal hosts recycling meeting. (Meetings).

Rubber Recycling 2002, a biennial event sponsored by the Rubber Association of Canada and the Rubber Manufacturers Association, will be held October 23-25 at the Delta CentreVille Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Rubber Recycling 2002 aims to promote and encourage rubber recycling by sharing technical and educational information and demonstrating practical applications for recycled rubber.

On Wednesday, October 23, a plenary session on "Global trends in rubber recycling" will feature speakers from the RMA, Japanese Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association, European Association of the Rubber Industry and the Rubber Association of Canada, and will address the strategic initiatives and issues faced by each region of the world. This global review will quantity the breadth and scope of their respective solutions to scrap rubber.

Session A on "Update on the Canadian provincial programs for scrap tires" will discuss how two jurisdictions, Newfoundland and the Yukon, have recently introduced scrap tire stewardship programs. British Columbia and Quebec are contemplating changes to their existing programs, and Ontario is in the process of introducing new scrap tire legislation. All have common elements, yet each is different, owing to local conditions. This presentation will locus on their successes and the continuing challenges facing the provincial scrap tire programs.

Session B on "Civil engineering opportunities for scrap tires" will highlight the opportunity for using scrap tires in civil engineering projects, which is said to be almost limitless. This panel will identify the growing use and review technical specifications of the most popular applications. Also covered will be the challenges of baled tires, plus an analysis of recent leachate studies.

On Thursday, October 24, a plenary session on "Implications of transboundary crumb rubber shipments" will feature a panel discussing the movement of crumb rubber between jurisdictions and the implications this has on recyclers and producers. It will also look at the trends and pertinent laws or restrictions that currently exist.

Session A on "New innovations in recycling equipment" will show how processing scrap tires is a tough job. They are said to be awkward to handle, the processing equipment is often inadequate, leading to hours of costly maintenance and downtime, according to the sponsors. This panel will review new innovations in recycling equipment, the use of the right equipment to achieve the desired end result and an analysis of the true cost of operation.

Session B on "Rubber 101" will provide an educational look at rubber recycling technology that is designed to provide insight on the basic types of rubber being recycled from ground tire rubber to the more exotic EPDMs and butyl rubbers found in factory scrap. It will review the implications of particle size on the properties of ground rubber.

On Thursday, October 24, an afternoon Session A on "Canadian Alliance of Tire Recycling Associations (CATRA)" will discuss the similarities and the differences across Canada and how CATRA continues to meet the needs of these different jurisdictions.

Session B on "U.S. state legislative issues," will describe how the RMA has worked closely with several states as an advocate for change to their scrap tire abatement programs. The leadership at the RMA will share with participants the current state of affairs.

A second afternoon Session A on Thursday, October 24, will focus on "Removing obstacles to rubber on the ground" The niche markets for ground rubber in playground cover, running tracks and soil amendments are said to have expanded over the past several years. However, they are also said to be facing ever increasing obstacles. This session will present the findings of an industry task force that identified the main obstacles to further expansion of these markets, and provide information that can answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

A second afternoon Session B on Thursday, October 24, will highlight "Selling rubber modified asphalt to departments of transportation." The use of rubber modified asphalt is said to face many obstacles. One of the largest hurdles is said the be the reluctance of DOTs to become large-scale users of this material. One of the critical elements is having the information necessary to counter the objections and concerns of the DOT, according to the sponsors. This panel will provide information that can prepare crumb rubber producers to approach their DOTs or paving contractors.

On Friday, October 25, Session A on "The science and economics of tire derived fuel" will feature a panel discussion on the impact tire derived fuel can have on air emissions. Discussions will also focus on the cost implications of TDF in capital investment for feeding systems and emission controls.

Session B on "The impact of new tire technology on the rubber recycling industry" will feature a panel discussion on the changes coming in new tire technology and theft impact on the ability to recycle these tires. This will cover the run flat tire technology, wide base truck tires, the addition of computer chips to tires and other trends participants should plan for in the future.

On Friday, October 25, a plenary session will be held on "Health and safety challenges in scrap tire processing." The rash of devastating fires at tire processing facilities is said to be a concern for processors and insurers alike. This session will identify fire hazards and explore potential preventative measures to mitigate tire fires.

Registration fees for Rubber Recycling 2002 range from $305 to $355. Further information is available from the Rubber Association of Canada [phone].