Mexican Recycling Company Offers to haul and dispose of Maverick County’s Used Tires
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Maverick County Commissioners Court unanimously approved to enter into a trial agreement with Grupo Reciclados Mexicanos (Grupo Recymex), a Mexican company from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, to haul and dispose of all the used tires in Maverick County for recycling purposes at their special meeting held on Thursday, January 29, 2015, at Commissioners Courtroom in Eagle Pass, Texas, possibly finding a solution to Maverick County’s used tire problem.
Maverick County has tens of thousands of used tires collected over the years and stored at several County locations such as the Maverick County Fairgrounds (Caballo Dorado Arena) and at one point the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Park, representing an environmental and public health hazard to County residents. Several County Commissioners, including former Interim Commissioner of Precinct 2 Daniela Flores-Aleman, have attempted to tackle the growing used tire problem facing Maverick County, resulting in several options studied but none implemented to date.
Alejandro Najera of Grupo Recymex presented Commissioners Court a detailed program and brochure on how the Mexican company recycles used tires at their industrial plant in Monte Morelos, Nuevo León, Coahuila for many usable products and uses, including sports fields, flooring, shoe soles, manufacturing waterproofing, soundproofing, furniture, hoses, mouse pads, pots, parking holds, fill leveling, and many other uses.
“We are currently part of a recycling company in Mexico and have been in business since 2009. We don’t do the regular type of uses that are normally done with tires,” said Najera.
Najera informed Commissioners Court that Grupo Recymex will remove, transport, and dispose of the used tires free of charge to Maverick County in exchange for them being given the tires at no cost. Grupo Recymex will hire contractors to pick up and remove the tires from the Maverick County facilities or parks and transport them to Mexico at no cost to Maverick County. We have seen a problem where you have probably over 130,000 tires.”
“We are interested in going in and taking those tires immediately and taking them to our facility in Monte Morelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. We have removed used tire problems where over 130,000 tires were stored in one place,” said Najera.
Najera noted that Maverick County will be the first county that Grupo Recymex will remove and dispose of its used tires in Texas, but that other counties such as Cameron County in the Rio Grande Valley are interested too.
Although Grupo Recymex does not charge for the removal and disposition of the used tires, Najera asked Commissioners Court if there were any possibility that Maverick County could help with the purchase of a tire shredding machine to assist defer the company’s expenses. Najera estimated a new tire shredder costs between $60,000 to $80,000. Najera advised County Commissioners that Grupo Recymex’s offer to remove and dispose of the used tires did not depend on Maverick County helping them financially to buy a new tire shredder. They just thought it does not hurt to ask if Maverick County can assist them with the purchase of a new tire shredder to expedite the process. Najera noted that other counties were also looking into the possibility of contributing to the purchase of a new tire shredder. “We will go into discussion in what the county can help us with,” said Najera.
Najera further explained the details of what was needed including setting up a tire shredding machine that they would be setting up and the transport of the tires as well.
County Judge David R. Saucedo asked Najera what would be the cost to Maverick County under the proposed agreement to remove and dispose its used tires. “I believe there will be no cost to the county,” answered Najera.
Commissioner Roberto Ruiz asked Najera if Grupo Recymex would be providing its own tire shredder. “Yes, but we would like to ask if there is any available funds that might be out there, and we would like to propose to Maverick County if their might be any grants or any type of budget available and if we could receive some assistance, but if not we will still take those tires at no cost to the county,” said Najera.
Judge Saucedo asked Maverick County General Counsel Mariliza Villalpando Williams of Nevarez Law Group to review the proposed contract offered by Grupo Recymex.
Najera advised Commissioners Court that all liabilities, if any, would fall under Grupo Recymex and not Maverick County.
Judge Saucedo asked Commissioners Court if they were willing to do a trial run and see how it works, which they all agreed it was a good idea. As a matter of fact, Commissioner Gerardo “Jerry” Morales stated that “it was too good to be true.” Commissioners Court agreed to do a trial run to make sure everything Grupo Recymex presented was correct and to avoid any problems between the parties.
Commissioner Rosy Cantu asked Najera who would be responsible for obtaining any permits necessary to export the used tires to Mexico. Najera answered that the transportation company whom his company would hire has all the proper permits required to export and import the used tires into Mexico.
“I agree with the Judge on a trial run,” said Najera.
Commissioners Court and Grupo Reciclados Mexicanos continued to discuss issues stemming from the proposal such as contract language and security of the proposal in benefit to both parties under the agreement.
Commissioner Jerry Morales made a motion to accept a trial run proposal from Grupo Recymex pending review and approval from general counsel and at no cost to Maverick County. Commissioner Ruiz seconded the motion and Commissioners Court approved it unanimously.
Should the trial agreement work for both Maverick County and Grupo Recymex, the disposition of Maverick County’s tens of thousands of used tires will be a welcome environmental and public health solution.
