Magazine for the professional tire industry
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Wheel weights "It's fairly common to fnd local scrap haulers who are willing to buy (mixed media wheel weights) from you, but you lose traceability," says Keefe. "A lot of the industry is concerned about having traceability from cradle to grave — or cradle to cradle as it tends to work in the wheel weight industry — because those weights come back, they get melted and they end up back in a product whether it's a batery or a wheel weight." Perfect Equipment, Plombco Inc., Hennessy Industries and Wurth USA all ofer wheel weight return programs and accept mixed media weights. "We'll be taking lead of vehicles for years and years and years," says Keefe. "We're just now starting to see the impact of the lead-free conversions in the wheel weight returns. If it takes another fve or 10 years for legislation to fip the switch on the rest of the country, we'll be taking lead wheel weights of for another 13 to 15 years." "It would be a good idea to see (lead wheel weight recycling) through to the end," says Molinari. "Tere is lead out there and it's coming of. We need to ensure we capture what's lef and process it properly through the system." ■ Transitioning from lead? Here is TIA's advice In May 2013, the Tire Industry Association issued best management practices that included the group's advice for the tire industry to transition away from lead wheel weights. 1. If you are currently purchasing lead wheel weights, contact your supplier to transition away from lead, replacing the wheel weights with non-lead material. The most common alternative material is steel, but other non-toxic alternatives are also being used, including high- 40 density polymers in specialty applications, and aluminum and zinc alloys. Ask your wheel weight supplier if they have a program for recycling the old wheel weights. 2. You may also check with your automotive battery supplier or a local scrap metal recycler. Recycle used lead wheel weights in an environmentally responsible manner. 3. Designate a storage space for the used lead wheel weights. Store the lead in a labeled container that is capable of Quik-Link: 800-687-1557 ext. 19114 handling the excessive weight of lead. 4. Ensure that no lead weights leave the shop as trash or litter. Do not leave lead wheel weights on bay foors, parking lots or allow them to fall into foor drains or storm water drains. 5. Provide training to ensure that shop employees are conscientious about the need to treat lead wheel weights with special care. In addition, all employees who handle lead wheel weights should be instructed to wash their hands regularly for proper hygiene. MTD August 2013