ECAR Fact Sheet for Florida
Waste 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

Auto recycling facilities are considered waste tire collection centers as defined in Florida's Solid Waste rule, 62-701.200(135). Waste tire collection centers remove tires from motor vehicles before offering them for resale, recycling, or disposal and keep fewer than 1500 tires on-site on any given day.

As a waste tire collection center, auto recyclers are not required to obtain a permit under Florida's waste tire rule, 62-711, as long as the number of tires on-site does not exceed 1500. Exceeding this limit will cause your facility to be classified as a waste tire site and you would be subject to enforcement and fines. Even though you are exempt from obtaining a permit, as a waste tire collection center you are required to meet all of the storage requirements in the rule. (These requirements are outlined in 62-711.540.)

This fact sheet will tell you what you need to do if you exceed that limit, and will also help you manage smaller quantities of tires.

Regulations

Florida has waste tire rules that are applicable to auto recycling facilities, which accumulate 1,500 tires (indoor/outdoor combined) or more on-site at anytime during the year. If your facility does not accumulate 1,500 waste tires on-site, then these rules do not apply. However, you must still comply with Florida solid waste management regulations.

Registrations. Auto recycling facilities that transport more that 25 waste tires over public roads at any time must be registered with DEP as a waste tire collector. This registration also allows you to transport tires to a permitted waste tire processing facility or landfill.

For a new collector, an application must be submitted to DEP at least 30 days before the collector intends to begin operations. Registrations expire on April 1 each year, unless renewed. Renewal applications must be submitted annually by March 1.

Each vehicle used for transporting waste tires must display a registration decal. The decal must be affixed to the outside of the driver's front door.

Storage of Waste Tires. Various rules apply to the storage of waste tires. These include some general rules and specific rules related to indoor and outdoor waste tire storage.

General Storage Requirements. The following rules apply to all registered waste tire collectors.

• If the site receives waste tires from the public, a sign must be posted at the entrance of the site stating operating hours, the cost of disposal, and site rules. Also, an attendant must be present when the site is open for business.

• No operations involving the use of open flames can be conducted within 25 feet of a waste tire pile.

• Fire protection services for the site must be coordinated with the local fire department. A fire safety survey must be conducted at least annually and the survey report must be made part of the next quarterly report (see Reporting).

• You must prepare and keep at the site an emergency preparedness manual. The manual must be updated at least once a year and whenever changes occur in the operations at the site. A copy of the current manual must be kept at an off-site location.

• You must immediately notify DEP in the event of a fire or other emergency that poses an unanticipated threat to the public health or the environment. Within two weeks of any emergency, submit to DEP a written report on the emergency.

• You must maintain records of the quantity of waste tires received at the site, stored at the site, and shipped from the site.

• Communications equipment (e.g., telephone) must be maintained at the site so that the local fire department can be contacted in case of a fire.

• You must control mosquitoes and rodents at the site (see BMPs).

• An approach and access road to the waste tire site must be kept passable for any motor vehicle at all times.

Indoor Storage Requirements. All waste tire sites, collection centers, processing facilities, and disposal facilities which store waste tires indoors must comply with the following additional technical and operational standards:

• Tire piles may not be more than 50 feet in width, except that piles along a wall must not be more than 25 feet in width.

• The width of main aisles between tire piles must be not less than eight feet.

• The clearance from the top of storage to sprinkler deflectors or roof structures must not be less than three feet.

• The clearance in any direction from unit heaters, radiant space heaters, duct furnaces, and flues must not be less than three feet.

• When waste tires are stored up to 15 feet high, walls between adjacent warehouse areas and between manufacturing and warehouse areas must have not less than a four-hour fire rating.

• When waste tires are stored over 15 feet high, walls between manufacturing and warehouse areas must have a fire rating of not less than six hours and steel columns must have one hour fireproofing. If the top of storage exceeds 20 feet in height, two-hour fireproofing must be provided for the column and its connections with other structural members.

• An automatic sprinkler system installed in compliance with "The Standard for Storage of Rubber Tires", NFPA 231D, published by the National Fire Protection Association may be substituted for fire walls and column fireproofing.

• At any time when an attendant is not present, access to the site must be controlled through the use of doors, fences, gates, natural barriers, or other means.

Outdoor Storage Requirements. All waste tire sites, collection centers and any processing or disposal facilities which store waste tires outdoors must comply with the following additional technical and operational standards:

• A waste tire site must not be constructed or operated within 200 feet of any natural or artificial body of water, including wetlands, except bodies of water contained completely within the property boundaries of the facility which do not ordinarily discharge from the site to surface waters.

• An outdoor waste tire pile must have no greater than the following maximum dimensions:

• Width: 50 feet;
• Area: 10,000 square feet; and
• Height: 15 feet.

• A 50-foot wide fire lane must be placed around the perimeter of each outdoor waste tire pile. Access to the fire lane for emergency vehicles must be unobstructed at all times.

• Access to the site must be controlled through the use of fences, gates, natural barriers or other means.

• The site must be bermed or given other adequate protection if necessary to keep liquid runoff from a potential waste tire fire from entering water bodies.

• The waste tire site must be kept free of grass, underbrush, and other potentially flammable vegetation at all times.

Record Keeping. A waste tire collector must record and maintain for three years the following information regarding its activities for each three-month period of operation. These records must be available for inspection by DEP personnel during normal business hours.

• The total quantity of waste tires collected expressed in tons.

• Where or from whom the waste tires were collected and the quantity, in tons, collected from each.

• Where the waste tires were deposited and the quantity, in tons, deposited at each location.

• Receipts or other written materials documenting where all waste tires were deposited, stored or disposed of for at least three years.

Reporting. Waste tire collectors must submit to DEP an annual report that summarizes activities at the site using a specified form (Form 62-701.900(22)). This report shall be submitted to the DEP annually by March 1 with the annual registration fee and renewal application as a condition of renewing and maintaining a registration.

Transport of Waste Tires. The State of Florida requires that anyone who is moving more than 25 waste tires on Florida roadways must be registered with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as a waste tire collector.

A waste tire collector must only transport waste tires to a permitted waste tire processing facility. Waste tires, which have been removed from their site of origin and are on-board a motor vehicle, are considered deposited if that motor vehicle has not moved over public highways in the previous seven days.

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

Florida Waste Tire Rule, Chapter 62-711

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 used/waste tire storage areas and management procedures.

1. Has the facility accumulated 1,500 tires or more? If the facility accumulates 1,500 tires or more on site at a given time, reduce your accumulation to avoid enforcement actions.

2. Are used tires properly stored? Depending on whether used tires are stored indoors or outdoors, certain storage requirements must be met. Verify that all requirements are being met.

3. Are used tire inventory records maintained and available in the event of a DEP inspection? Verify that facility maintains records for 3 years including inventory, locations of disposal/recycle facilities, and disposal/recycle receipts.

4. How are used tires transported for disposal/recycling? Verify that any vehicle transporting more than 25 tires at a time is registered with DEP and displays a current decal.

5. Where are used tires transported for disposal/recycling? Verify that used tires are be transported to a facility permitted by DEP specifically for used/waste tire processing, and/or disposal.

6. Has the facility filed an annual report with DEP by March 1? Verify that annual reports were submitted by March 1 using form 62-701.900(22).

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 used/waste tires indoors or outdoors with a cover to prevent the collection of standing water and to prevent mosquito larvae from thriving.
• If used/waste tires cannot be processed in a timely manner, leave used/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.
• Transport stored used/waste tires regularly to prevent large accumulations.
• Check with your DEP District Office for a list of permitted used/waste tire processing facilities and transporters.
• Maintain disposal/recycling receipts for at least 3 years.

Contacts

1. DEP Hazardous Waste Compliance Assistance Program: 800-741-4337.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None.

Other Relevant Resources

1. DEP's Registered Waste Tire Collectors Database
2. Florida Registered Waste Tire Collector Applications
3. What You as a Tire Dealer Should Know About Florida's Waste Tire Law (DEP publication)

BACK to VIRTUAL TOUR