ECAR Fact Sheet for Arizona
Used Tires

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

BACK to VIRTUAL TOUR

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

Hazards associated with waste tire piles include heavy mosquito infestations and fires. Waste tires accumulate water, which is a viable environment and ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes not only are nuisances, but also can carry and transmit disease to humans and animals.

In addition to being breeding grounds for mosquitoes, waste tires also can be easily ignited, resulting in fires that are difficult to extinguish. Tire fires can burn for several weeks, causing millions of dollars of damage including soil, surface water and groundwater contamination.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) categorizes waste tire facilities by the number of tires stored on-site.

• If you store more than 5,000 waste tires on any day, you are defined as a waste tire “facility,” and are subject to self-certification and the submittal of a notice to ADEQ.
• If you store 500 to 5000 waste tires on any day, you are defined as a waste tire “collection site,” and are subject to best management practices and the submittal of a notice to ADEQ.
• If you store between 100 and 500 used tires outside on any day, you are defined as a “other waste tire site,” and must comply with the requirements below.

Storage. Do not store 100 or more waste tires in the following manner:

• In any fashion that exceeds 20 feet in height.
• In a pile that is more than 150 feet from a 20-foot wide access route that allows fire control apparatus to approach the pile. Access routes between and around tire piles shall be at least 20 feet wide and maintained free of accumulations of rubbish, equipment or other materials. Access routes shall be spaced so that a maximum grid system unit of 50 feet by 150 feet is maintained.
• Within 3 feet of any property line.
• In any fashion that exceeds 6 feet in height if the used tires are stored between 3 and 10 feet of any property line.
• Within 50 feet of any area in which smoking of tobacco or any other substance by persons is permitted. "No smoking" signs shall be posted in suitable and conspicuous locations.
• At any area in which the used motor vehicle tires are stored and in which electrical wiring, fixtures or appliances do not comply with the national electrical code.
• Without placing class "2A-10BC" type fire extinguishers at well marked points throughout the storage area so that the travel distance from any point in the storage area to a fire extinguisher is not more than 75 feet.

Recordkeeping. Depending on your waste tire classification, you may be required to submit self-certification and notice to ADEQ.

Retailers/Wholesalers. Retail and wholesale tire sellers are required to accept, within 30 days of a new tire purchase, waste tires from consumers in the amount equaling the total sales of new tires for the year. The tire seller is authorized to collect 2 percent but not more than $2 of each new tire's selling price as a "surcharge for environmental protection." The surcharge must be clearly marked on any bill of sale or sales receipt given to the consumer.

Disposal. You are not allowed to dispose of waste tires in landfills, nor incinerate them, except under certain circumstances. The following are permissible methods of waste tire disposal:

• Incinerating or using as a fuel or pyrolysis if permitted by laws, regulations or ordinances relating to burning or fuel.
• Hauling to out-of-state collection or processing sites.
• Retreading or recapping; constructing collision barriers; or controlling soil erosion or for flood control only if used in accordance with approved engineering practices.
• Chopping or shredding for use as waste tire daily cover at a solid waste landfill; grinding for use in asphalt and as a raw material for other products.
• Sludge composting; or using as playground equipment.
• Tire monofills if tires are chopped or shredded, or use as a building material for building construction in accordance with applicable city, town and county building codes.
• Agricultural purposes as bumpers on agricultural equipment or as ballast to maintain covers at an agricultural site.

If you knowingly discard or abandon 500 or more motor vehicle tires, discard or abandon any motor vehicle tires for commercial purposes except as provided, or otherwise knowingly perform any act prohibited by law involving 500 or more motor vehicle tires, you may be found guilty of a class 5 felony. Used motor vehicle tires does not include tires that have been recapped and have not yet been put back into service.

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

Arizona Waste Tire Regulations (44-1301 to 1307)

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. How many tires are stored? If your facility stores more than 500 waste tires on-site, you must register with ADEQ. If you store more than 100 waste tires, you must store the tires in accordance with ADEQ storage requirements.
2. Have you kept complete and accurate records? Verify that you have maintained complete and accurate records regarding your waste tire amounts and storage. You may need this information to comply with the state’s reporting requirements if you store more than 500 tires.

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.
• Keep tires stored indoors, if possible, or keep tire piles covered in order to prevent entrapment of water. Store the tires in accordance with ADEQ storage requirements.
• If stored outdoors, store waste tires in a sunny area. (Sunlight speeds evaporation of standing water and kills heat-intolerant mosquito larvae.)
• 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.
• Clean and maintain tire processing equipment regularly. Dirty, poorly maintained equipment poses a pollution risk from greasy rainwater run-off or dripping oil.

1. For additional information, contact the Arizona Waste Tire Coordinator at 602-771-4118 or toll free at 800-234-5677.
2. To check on any special county ordinances concerning scrap tires, contact your county manager or county waste tire coordinators.
3. To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the nearest regional office.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None identified.

Other Relevant Resources

1. Arizona Waste Tire Website
2. Arizona Green Business Automotive Program

BACK to VIRTUAL TOUR