Illinois tire-recycling could hit wall

CHICAGO, March 17 (UPI) -- Illinois's tire recycling program could be running into trouble with too many surplus tires and no place for them to go.

he state not only recycles millions of its own tires every year, it also brings in millions of tires from out-of-state

The Chicago Tribune reports the trouble is tire-derived fuel, or TDF, which is losing out to competition from natural gas, and rousing the anger of environmentalists.

About 80 percent of Illinois tires now end their lives as TDF. The newspaper reports that state officials have been trying to find other uses for old tires but progress has been slow to come.