Newsprint Recycler to Reuse Sunken Tires

By: E&P Staff The Miami Herald has reported that SP Newsprint's Dublin, Ga., recycled newsprint mill will begin recycling tires recovered from waters off Fort Lauderdale. The mill, which supplies the Herald and is owned in part by the paper's parent, The McClatchy Co., will use the tires as fuel for its boilers.

The tires are being recovered from a failed artificial reef. After more than 30 years, some 700,000 ties spread across 34 acres of sea floor were in fact damaging existing reefs. They await recovery by Navy divers, whose services as a training exercise will significantly reduce costs - to about $2 million over three years, according to the Herald.

After shredding and steel removal, the recovered tires will be sent to the paper mill, which may be sold by McClatchy and co-owners Cox Enterprises and Media General (E&P Online, May 17; also see 'Partners in Paper' in next month's E&P).