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ECAR Fact Sheet for Illinois
Waste 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
Disposal
of used and waste tires is one of the biggest solid waste issues
facing automotive recyclers. Used tires pose a significant threat
to public health and the environment. Waste tire piles provide a
breeding ground for mosquitoes, which may cause disease, and they
also present a serious fire hazard.
This
fact sheet will help you manage the tires stored at your facility
and how to remove them properly.
Regulations
In
early 1992, new regulations were established regarding used tires
in Illinois. At a minimum, Illinois law requires businesses that
store over 50 used tires on their property to so notify the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA). The agency
defines a "used tire" is a worn, damaged, or defective tire that
is not mounted on a vehicle wheel rim. A "waste tire"
is a used tire that has been disposed of. For purposes of this fact
sheet, the term used tire will be employed.
If
your business stores more than 50 used tires on your property and
you do not qualify for an exemption under the law, you must
also register with the Illinois EPA. A registration form
and a $100.00 fee must be submitted annually.
Exemptions.
You may qualify for an exemption from the registration, fee and
other storage requirements if you store used tires:
- Outside
and never accumulate more than 250 used tires; or
- Within
a building or trailer so that the tires are kept dry and never
accumulate more that 1,300 used tires.
If
you store more than 250 used tires outside or 1,300 used tires inside,
you should call the Illinois EPA Used Tire Unit for further assistance.
See information under Contacts.
Transportation.
Only tire transporters registered with Illinois EPA may haul
used tires in Illinois. If your business generates used tires, you
must have your tires hauled by registered tire transporters. Records
should also be maintained to document the dates of used tire removal
and numbers of used tires removed from your site.
A registered
used tire transporter must have a company-specific five digit registration
number on both sides of the permitted vehicle. The registration
number will appear below the words "Registered Tire Transporter",
and above an expiration seal which shall designate the date on which
the registration shall expire.
Contact
Illinois EPA Used Tire Unit for a list of registered used tire transporters
in your area.
Disposal.
Used tires that are not suitable for resale should be recycled
or properly disposed of in a permitted landfill facility. Tires
can be recycled by being retread and resold, or shredded and used
for various purposes, such as in the production of asphalt. Look
for outside vendors that will take used tires for recycling.
Storage.
If you store more than 50 used or waste tires, you must adhere to
the following requirements:
- You
must separate used or waste tire piles by 25 feet and maintain
aisle space for personnel and equipment.
- If
stored outside, used or waste tires must be separated from all
buildings, whether
on or off the site, by no less than 25 feet.
- Used
or waste tire piles must be separated from all potential ignition
sources, including cutting and welding devices, and open fires,
by at least 250 feet.
- Used
or waste tires must be drained of water on the day of generation or
receipt.
- Used
or waste tires cannot be stored more than 14 days after receipt
unless the used tire is altered, reprocessed, converted, covered
or otherwise prevented from accumulating water.
- Used
or waste tires cannot not be abandoned, dumped or disposed on
private or public property in Illinois, except in a landfill permitted
by the Illinois EPA.
- Used
or waste tires cannot be accepted from a vehicle in which more
than 20 tires are loaded unless the vehicle displays a placard
issued by the Illinois EPA.
- Tires
cannot be accumulated in an area if the grade of the ground surface
exceeds two percent slope, unless the appropriate requirements
are met.
In
your store more than 500 used or waste tires, you must also adhere
to the following requirements (in addition to the above requirements)
- A
contingency plan which meets the requirements of Section 848.203
must be maintained.
- Appropriate
recordkeeping and reporting requirements must be met.
- Used
or waste tires cannot be placed on or accumulated in any pile
unless the pile is separated from grass, weeds, brush, over-hanging
tree limbs and similar vegetative growth by no less than 50 feet.
- Used
or waste tires cannot be placed on or accumulated in any tire
storage unit unless the unit is no more than 20 feet high by 250
feet wide by 250 feet long. In determining the width or length
of any tire storage unit the aisle space between any piles within
the unit shall be included.
- Used
or waste tires shall not be placed or accumulated in any tire
storage unit unless one of the following requirements is met:
A) The tire storage unit is separated from all buildings, whether
located on or off the site, and all other tire storage units by
an earthen berm that is no less than 1.5 times the maximum height
of any tire pile within the storage unit; or B) The tire storage
unit is separated from all buildings, whether located on or off
the site, and all other tire storage units by a separation distance
that is not less than the distance identified.
In
your store more than 10,000 used or waste tires, you must also adhere
to the following requirements (in addition to the above requirements):
- The
area of the site where used or waste tires are stored must be
completely surrounded by fencing in good repair which is not less
than 6 feet in height.
- Entrance
to the area where used or waste tires are located shall be controlled
at all times by an attendant, locked entrance, television monitors,
controlled roadway access or other equivalent mechanisms.
- The
area of the site where used or waste tires are stored must be
completely surrounded by an earthen berm or other structure not
less than 2 feet in height, and capable of containing runoff resulting
from tire fires, and accessible by fire fighting equipment, except
that the owner or operator shall provide a means for access through
or over the berm or other structure.
Links
to the Regulations and Forms. Use the following links to view
the regulations pertaining to scrap tire management.
Illinois
Administrative Code –Title 35, Part 848, Management of Used and
Waste Tires
Used
Tire Notification and Registration Form
Self-Audit
Checklist
When
an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things they
he or she checks 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 scrap tire storage areas and management
procedures.
- Where
are scrap tires transported for disposal/recycling? Make sure
your hauler has a valid state permit as a scrap tire hauler. Also,
make sure the tires are being taken to an authorized recycler
or disposal facility.
- How
many tires are stored? Verify whether your facility falls
under the state requirements for registration and other rules.
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 scrap tire storage areas and management procedures.
- Store
as few scrap tires as possible at your facility.
- Schedule
regular pickup for scrap tires by a properly permitted hauler.
- Keep
tires stored indoors, if possible, or keep tire piles covered
in order to prevent entrapment of water.
- Store
waste tires in a sunny area to allow evaporation of standing water
and to kill heat-intolerant mosquito larvae.
- If
scrap tires cannot be processed in a timely manner, leave scrap
tires on the rims to avoid problems with mosquitoes until the
scrap tires can be managed properly.
- Do
not burn or bury scrap tires.
Contacts
- For
more information, contact the Illinos EPA Used Tire Unit at 217-785-8604.
- To
report environmental emergencies, call 1-800-782-7860.
- To
report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the nearest
Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency offices.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
None.
Other
Relevant Resources
- IEPA Fact Sheet - How to Manage Your Used Tires
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