New opportunities is hardly an image that comes to mind when driving by a sky-high pile of old tires. In fact, old tires or “waste tires” as they are commonly known pose a number of environmental hazards such as catching fire, becoming a breading ground for mosquitos, and even leaving behind hazardous oil residue that pollutes surface and groundwater.
Waste tires, however, are a marketable resource which can be retreaded to produce new tires or turned into commonly used products such as floor mats, running tracks or rubber mulch. Companies operating in Indiana that develop a project to increase waste tire collection for recycling or consumption could receive up to $500,000 through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Recycling Market Development Grant Program. The program is ongoing with the next submission deadline of June, 2022.
For small businesses that may not have the capacity for developing a project, knowing how and where to dispose of waste tires can be a challenge. Even businesses that produce a small amount of 12 waste tires per year are required to maintain records of their waste tire transport in compliance with Indiana code 13-20-14-5.3. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) lists proper disposal methods as
- A wholesaler or to an agent of a wholesaler
- A tire manufacturer
- A tire retread facility
- A permitted final disposal facility regulated under environmental management laws
- A registered waste tire transporter, storage, or processing site
Unfortunately, none of the above parties are required to accept waste tires. If you are challenged to dispose of your waste tires, IDEM’s Compliance and Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) can assist to navigate the process of proper disposal, remediate existing problems created by the accumulation of large piles of tires, and identify and incorporate best management practices for waste tire management.
For help and more resources on proper waste tire management and developing projects for waste tires as a marketable resource in Indiana, check out these resources
- IDEM Compliance and Technical Assistance Program
- Recycle Indiana for waste tire disposal
- Recycling Market Development Grant Program
Groundwater is your drinking water – protect it by managing your waste tires properly!
