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. 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 (includes Amendments)
Standards for Storage of Residual Waste, 25 Pa. Code § 299.155-163

Tire Recycling Resources

County Recycling Programs and Recycling Coordinators
Search for Drop-Off Locations:

Tire Drop-Off Locations & Events

Ongoing Collection Programs

This table contains a list of ongoing waste tire collection programs sponsored by counties, municipalities or county/municipal authorities.

Locality / Sponsor	Collection Days	Location	Contact / Details
Allegheny County City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works DPW, Environmental Services, Recycling 412-255-2631	Monday-Friday 8AM-2PM Some Saturdays (call)	East End Drop-Off Center 6814 Hamilton Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15208	412-665-3609
		Hazelwood Drop-Off Center 40 Melanchton St Pittsburgh, PA 15207	412-422-6545
		West End Drop-Off Center 1330 Hassler St Pittsburgh, PA 15220	412-937-3054
			Limited to Pittsburgh residents, two tires per day

Berks County Solid Waste Authority Recycling Office	Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday 8AM-12PM	Berks County Recycling Center 1316 Hill Top Road Leesport, PA 19533	Berks County Recycling Center 610-478-6362 swa@countyofberks.com

Elk County	Monday-Friday 6AM-4PM Saturday 9AM-12PM	Advanced Disposal Greentree Landfill 635 Toby Rd. Kersey, PA 15846	Elk County Tire Recycling 814-776-5373 elkrecycling@countyofelkpa.com Contact Elk Co. SWA for manifest prior to drop-off

Mercer County City of Hermitage	Friday 7AM-12PM	Hermitage City Garage 5250 Virginia Rd Hermitage, PA 16148	Hermitage Recycling / Solid Waste 724-981-0800 Please call ahead Residents only

Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority	Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4PM	183 Commercial Blvd Blakeslee, PA 18610	TheWasteAuthority.com 570-643-6100 support@thewasteauthority.com Residents only

Philadelphia County City of Philadelphia Streets Department	From October 1 to March 31: Monday – Saturday 8AM-6PM From April 1 to September 30: Monday – Saturday 6AM-8PM	Sanitation Convenience Centers Multiple locations, see link	Philadelphia Streets Sanitation 215-686-5560 csstreets@phila.gov Residents only

Special Collection Events

This table contains a list of one-time waste tire collection events sponsored by counties, municipalities or county/municipal authorities.

Locality / Sponsor	Collection Days	Location	Contact / Details
Cambria County/Keep PA Beautiful	4/17/21	1654 Railroad Street, Summerhill, PA 15958
	4/24/21	184 Municipal Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931
	5/1/21	Patton Borough Football Field, Beech Avenue, Ebensburg, PA 15931
	5/15/21	1610 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902

Erie County	6/12/21	36 Bessemer Street, Albion, PA 16401
	4/17/21 and 10/9/21	650 East Smith Street, Corry, PA 16407

Multi-County Independence Conservancy Southwestern PA	Various See event schedule at Independence Conservancy (schedule updated periodically)	Various See event schedule at Independence Conservancy	Independence Conservancy info@independenceconservancy.org

List of Waste Tire Processors

Recycling Markets Search - Locate outlets for various recyclable materials. Under material type, select "Rubber (Tires)", then click on search.

Waste tire recycling report from the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Joint State Government Commission: Waste Tire Recycling and Reuse in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of the Industry, Markets and State Use, Including Rubber Modified Asphalt (PDF, 2007)

Transportation Compliance

Waste Tire Hauler Authorization Fact Sheet 2540-FS-DEP2891 (PDF)
Waste Tire Transporter Permit Application and Instructions 2540-PM-BWM0252
Waste Tire Transporter Annual Report Form and Instructions 2500-FM-BWM0252
Authorized Waste Tire Transporters (Interactive Report)

Storage and Processing Permit and Report Forms

Notice by Waste Tire Storage Site Operators 2500-FM-BWM0431
General Permit for Processing and Beneficial Use of Waste Tires WMGR038 (PDF)
Waste Tire Processing Facility Annual Operation Report 2500-FM-BWM0411
Don't Give Mosquitoes a Ride 3800-BO-DEP4921 (PDF)
Info on the use of tire chip aggregate for use in alternate onlot sewage treatment systems, see DEP classification of alternate aggregates: Alternate technology (A2014-0017-0002)
Inspection Form Waste Tire Storage Facility 2540-FM-BWM0441

Waste Tire Piles

Grants

Note - No grants are available at this time.

Waste Tire Links

For additional information on waste tires, contact DEP at 717-787-7391 or EP, Waste.