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

• recyclesearch.com
• Earth 911 Search

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.

Special Collection Events

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

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

• List of Pennsylvania's Priority Waste Tire Piles
• Completed Waste Tire Pile Cleanup (PDF)
• 2014 Annual Report: Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for the Remediation of Used Tire Piles (PDF)
• 2013 Annual Report: Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for the Remediation of Used Tire Piles (PDF)

Grants

Note - No grants are available at this time.

Waste Tire Links

• PennDOT Pollution Prevention Program
• PennDOT Recycling Fact Sheet: Scrap Tire and Tire-Rubber (PDF)
• EPA Scrap Tires: Handbook on Recycling Applications and Management for the U.S. and Mexico
• Rubber Manufacturers Association: Scrap Tire Markets

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