Using Old Tires

Regarding Michael Grieco’s question (letter, Oct. 7) about grinding up tires to use in asphalt to build roads, the answer is this: cost.

Grinding up tires and adding them to asphalt creates a better and more durable asphalt for the roadway, making it last longer. It does, however, carry a higher up-front cost. Our governments are required to hire the lowest bidder on a job, not necessarily the best-quality bidder. Contractors using recycled tires would, by necessity, need to charge more, and therefore are eliminated before they get their foot in the door. Perhaps we should reconsider this policy and look at long-term costs and benefits.

KEVIN GOULD

Whittier