Waste Tire Program

Waste tires present environmental, health, and safety hazards. Rainwater accumulates in tire piles creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes, which are known to transmit West Nile Virus. Another hazard is fire. A massive tire fire under a major highway in Philadelphia cost millions of dollars in damage and affected commuters and businesses in the region over several months. Large tire piles can burn for weeks causing the rubber to decompose into oil, which can pollute ground and surface water.

Statutes and Regulations

Waste Tire Recycling Act Act 190 of 1996
Summary of Act 190 (Word )

Waste Tire Recycling Act Amendments H.B.754 of 2002
Waste Tire Recycling Act Amendments H.B.1114 of 2006

Act 24 of 2010 (House Bill 961) - Provides $1.25 million per fiscal year from FY 09/10 to FY 12/13 for the Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account.

Standards for Storage of Residual Waste

Recycling

Update on the Pennsylvania Waste Tire Recycling Program (pdf)
Where to Recycle

County Recycling Programs and Recycling Coordinators
Drop-Off Locations and Earth 911
List of Waste Tire Processors and Recyclers
Recycled Markets Search - Locate outlets for various recyclable materials
Online Recycling Database - Online Access to Recycling Markets and Recycled Products Information

New Releases

Oct. 4, 2007 - Waste Tire Recycling and Reuse in Pennsylvania (pdf)

Transportation Compliance

Waste Tire Transporter Authorization Form and Instructions - 2540-PM-BWM0252
Annual Report Forms and Instructions - 2500-FM-BWM0252
Authorized Waste Tire Transporters (XLS Format) Updated Weekly
Waste Tire Hauler Authorization Fact Sheet 2540-FS-DEP2891

Storage and Processing Permit and Report Forms

Notice by Waste Tire Storage Site Operators 2500-FM-BWM0431
General Permit WMGR038 (pdf) for Processing and Beneficial Use of Waste Tires
Waste Tire Processing Facility Annual Operation Report 2520-FM-BWM0411
What Tire Pile Owners Should Know About West Nile Virus (under revision) 4700-FS-DEP2535
Use of Tire Chip Aggregate in On-Lot Sewage Treatment Systems (see p. 25 Alternative Systems Guidance 362-0300-007 )
Inspection Form Waste Tire Storage Facility 2540-FM-BWM0441
News Releases

Oct. 24, 2011 - DEP Issues Air Permit to Crawford Renewable Energy for Waste Tires-to-Energy Project

Waste Tire Piles

About 12.5 million waste tires are generated and recycled each year in Pennsylvania. Approximately two million waste tires remain in large stockpiles scattered throughout the state. In the last 11 years, 27.8 million waste tires have been cleaned up.

List of Pennsylvania's Priority Waste Tire Piles
Map of Pennsylvania's Priority Waste Tire Piles
Completed Waste Tire Pile Cleanups (pdf)
News Releases

October 7, 2011 - DEP Announces Completion of Beaver County Tire Pile Remediation Project
March 25, 2011 - DEP Announces Tire Pile Cleanup Projects
2010 Annual Report: Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for the Remediation of Used Tire Piles (pdf)
May 12, 2010 - Governor Signs Bill Extending Recycling, Waste Tire Cleanup Funding Through 2020

Grants

Note - No grants are available at this time.

Waste Tire Links

For additional information on waste tires, contact DEP at 1-800-346-1932, 717-783-9258 or EP, Waste.