ECAR Fact Sheet for Alabama
Used Tires

Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources

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The following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check on the status of the review process here. Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried to present a summary of the essential information on this topic, you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations, may apply to you.

What You Need to Know

Scrap tires provide convenient habitats for rodents. They hold water and become excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry diseases. Improperly stored tires present a fire hazard. They trap oxygen that will constantly feed the flames which emit noxious, air polluting smoke. When tires are illegally burned, oils and soot can run off and contaminate both surface and ground water.

This fact sheet will help you manage the tires stored at your facility and how to dispose of them properly.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has prepared guidance documents to help auto recyclers manage scrap tires. Much of the information is included in the fact sheet below. You can access the ADEM’s scrap tire guidance documents under Other Relevant Resources.

Regulations

Last June 2003, the Alabama Scrap Tire Environmental Quality Act (The Act) was passed to regulate scrap tire accumulations and provide for cleanup and remediation of illegal scrap tire piles. 

The Act placed a $1 per tire fee on all replacement tires sold to establish a scrap tire fund, and required the ADEM to develop a program to regulate the management of scrap tires. The Scrap Tire Unit will be inspecting scrap tire receivers, transporters, and processors as well as sites where tires have been illegally disposed and will take enforcement action when needed.

The Act requires ADEM to have its program start October 1, 2004, however, the state code, which contains the regulations and requirements, became effective August 4, 2004. 

*ADEM is now accepting registrations from scrap tire receivers and permit applications from scrap tire transporters and scrap tire processors.

Scrap Tire Receivers.  If you generate or accumulate scrap tires, you are a “Receiver” and are required to register with the ADEM. There are two types of Receivers:

• Class One Receivers include retail tire dealers, retreaders, and used tire dealers.
• Class Two Receivers include all others receivers that generate or accumulate a minimum of 10 scrap tires a year (includes dismantling companies).

Scrap Tire Environmental Fee.  Receivers are responsible for collecting the $1 Scrap Tire Environmental Fee, for each new, used, or retreaded replacement tire sold, and remitting it to the Alabama Department of Revenue.  You are required to register with the Department of Revenue.

General Storage Requirements.  As a Class Two Receiver, you are not allowed to have more than 300 scrap tires at your facility. If you are a Class One Receiver, you are not allowed to have more than 1,500 scrap tires at your facility. No scrap tires may be exposed to the elements for more than 30 days.

Indoor and Outdoor Storage Requirements.  The amount of tire materials that may be stored indoors or outdoors shall not exceed the number of scrap tires or weight of processed tire material that can be processed or utilized in a 30-day period.  The tire materials shall be processed on a first-in, first-used basis.  ADEM shall approve the amount of tire materials that may be stored indoors when it issues a facility registration or permit.  A Vector Control Plan is required if tire materials containing water are stored indoors. The following requirements must be met when storing tires outdoors:

• Tire materials shall not be stored in the 100-year flood plain, in coastal beaches or dunes, or within 200 feet of a wetland or waters of the state, unless otherwise approved by ADEM.
  • The maximum dimensions of a tire materials pile shall not exceed:
  • A width of 50 feet;
  • A length of 200 feet;
  • An area of 10,000 square feet; or
  • A height of 15 feet for whole tires or 9 feet for processed tire material (unless measures are provided that assures maximum temperature shall not exceed 300° Fahrenheit at a point in the pile).
• For piles of tire materials capable of holding water, a Vector Control Plan shall be prepared.
• If you do not provide your own fire protection, you must arrange for fire protection and submit a detailed fire response plan to ADEM.
• A 100-foot wide fire lane shall be placed around the perimeter of tire materials piles, and 50-foot fire lanes shall be placed between individual tire materials piles.  Access to the fire lane shall be unobstructed at all times.  Potentially flammable vegetation shall be removed if growing within the fire lane.
• A berm or other features shall be constructed around tire materials piles to contain liquid runoff from a tire fire.
• No operations or activities involving open flames shall be conducted within 25 feet of a tire materials pile.
• Adequate access controls, to include fences, gates, or other means, shall be provided to minimize entrance by unauthorized persons.
• An attendant, operator, or some authorized person shall be present at all times when the facility is operating.

Disposal. You must ensure that any shipment of scrap tires for off-site processing or disposal is accompanied by a completed manifest.

Transporters. Ensure that scrap tires are removed from your facility by a permitted transporter. If you transport more than eight scrap tires at a time, you must have a permit.

Recordkeeping/Reporting. Receivers must submit a summary of each quarter’s activities to ADEM and maintain an operating record that includes the registration application and approval, manifests on scrap tire shipments, quarterly reports, and other documents generated at the facility that are submitted to ADEM.

Links to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to waste tire management.

Alabama Scrap Tire Management Requirements (Division 4)

Self-Audit Checklist

When an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things they check to see if you are in compliance with environmental regulations. It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit" and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties. Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits (see Audit Policy Page).

Use the following list to audit your waste tire storage areas and management procedures.

1. Are you required to have a permit? If you generate or accumulate more than 10 scrap tires per year, you are a Receiver and must register with the ADEM.
2. How many tires are stored? As a Class Two Receiver, you are not allowed to have more than 300 scrap tires at your facility.  Do not expose scrap tires to the elements for more than 30 days, and make sure you follow the state’s indoor and outdoor storage requirements.
3. Are you following scrap tire transport requirements? Ensure that any shipment of scrap tires for off-site processing or disposal is accompanied by a completed manifest and ensure that scrap tires are removed from your facility by a permitted transporter. If you transport more than eight scrap tires at a time, you must have a permit.
4. Are you complying with all recordkeeping requirements? You must submit a summary of each quarter’s activities to ADEM and maintain an operating record that includes the registration application and approval, manifests on scrap tire shipments, quarterly reports, and other documents generated at the facility that are submitted to ADEM.

Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Most regulations tell you what you have to do to be in compliance, but they don’t explain how to do it. That’s where "best management practices" come into play. BMPs are proven methods that help you to get into compliance and stay there. The following BMPs are recommended for waste tire storage areas and management procedures.

• Store as few waste tires as possible at your facility.
• Schedule regular pickup for waste tires.
• Keep tires stored indoors, if possible, or keep tire piles covered in order to prevent entrapment of water.
• If waste tires cannot be processed in a timely manner, leave waste tires on the rims to avoid problems with mosquitoes until the waste tires can be managed properly.
• Do not burn or bury waste tires.

Contacts

1. For more information, contact the ADEM Scrap Tire Program at 334-271-7988.
2. To report a spill or leak, call the ADEM’s 24-hour hotline at 800-843-0699, or the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.
3. To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the nearest regional office.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None.

Other Relevant Resources

1. Alabama – Scrap Tire Receiver Fact Sheet
2. Alabama – Scrap Tire Transporter Fact Sheet
3. Alabama – List of Permitted Scrap Tire Transporters
4. Alabama Department of Revenue
5. Alabama Scrap Tire Website

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