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Ponoka County optimistic on tire recycling

New ownership and attitude gives Ponoka County hope of finally solving a tire-ing problem
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The former Cutting Edge Tire Recycling site is under new ownership and has already seen some clean up activity on the site last week. File photo

The long and drawn out saga of the former Cutting Edge Tire Recycling site may soon end.

At the Ponoka County council meeting of July 11, CAO Charlie Cutforth provided an update on the continuing story by stating there is finally some good news to share.

“The title for the land has been transferred from the individual who purchased the property earlier this year to new owners that are from the Ukraine,” he stated.

Cutforth added that the two new owners, through an as yet to be named company, have been in discussions with the county, the Alberta Recycling Management Authority (ARMA) and companies such as Suncor for the past few months in anticipation of taking over the site and processing both passenger and mining tires.

“I’m encouraged that the new owners have now gotten a development permit application from the county and that they agree with the conditions the county would be imposing on such a development,” he said.

Those conditions include a financial security deposit to ensure the county isn’t once again stuck with stacks of tires, the completion of an environmental assessment of the property and a stipulation that no new tires will be allowed onto the property until the current material is gone.

“I’m optimistic as the new owners have already been on the property and begun to clean up portions of the site, as well as they also want to have the environmental assessment conducted in short order,” Cutforth explained.

“They have also been in talks with companies like Suncor in order to secure future feedstock for the operation.”

There still remain a couple of hurdles to go through before tire processing can take place, including garnering approval from ARMA to operate and the county passing any development permit.