Waste Tires

ECAR Fact Sheet for Louisiana
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

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 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 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 DEQ's scrap tire guidance documents under Other Relevant Resources.

Regulations

The DEQ has established standards, requirements, and permitting procedures for waste tire generators, transporters, and processors.

Permit Requirements. Within 30 days of commencement of business operations, generators of waste tires shall notify the DEQ of their existence and obtain a generator identification number prior to initiating a waste tire manifest.

Manifest System. All shipments of more than 20 waste tires shall be accompanied by a waste tire manifest provided by the DEQ. Manifest requirements are very specific regarding tire eligibility, the flow of the manifest document, the procurement of signatures on the manifest and the retainer of manifest copies by the generator, transporter, facility operators and the state.

Storage Requirements. No more than 150 tires shall be stored at your place of business at one time, unless stored in a transportable collection container. You may store waste tires up to 120 days after receipt or generation. All waste tires and waste tire material must be collected and/or stored on property contiguous to the waste tire generator facility or tire dealership.

You may store waste tires a maximum of 365 days, provided that:

The storage is solely for the purpose of accumulating such quantities as are necessary to facilitate proper processing.
Documentation supporting the storage period and the quantity required for proper processing are available at the generator's facility for department inspection.

For all waste tires and waste tire material collected and/or stored, you must provide a cover adequate to exclude water from the waste tires, vector and vermin control, and the means to prevent or control standing water in the containment area.

Disposal. For in-state waste tire transportation, all waste tires must be sent to an authorized collection center or a permitted processing facility.

Transporter Requirements. Waste tires cannot be removed from your facility by anyone other than an authorized transporter. However, if you generate 50 or less waste tires per month from the sale of 50 new tires, you may self-transport the waste tires to an authorized collection or permitted processing facility.

Transporters of waste tires must obtain a transporter authorization certificate from the state. No one shall transport more than 20 waste tires without a completed manifest satisfying the requirements of the state.
For in-state waste tire transportation, the transporter shall transport all waste tires to an authorized collection center or a permitted processing facility.
Any person who engages in the transportation of waste tires from Louisiana to other states or countries or from other states to Louisiana, or persons who collect or transport waste tires in Louisiana, but have their place of business in another state, shall comply with all of the state requirements for transporters.
The transporter shall affix to the driver's door, along with the transporter decal, and the passenger's door of each truck or tractor listed on the notification form, the authorization certificate number in characters no less than three inches in height.
Authorized transporters shall notify the Office of Management and Finance, Financial Services Division in writing within 10 days when any information on the authorization certificate form changes, or if they close their business and cease transporting waste tires.

Recordkeeping/Reporting. Completed manifests shall be maintained by all

parties for a minimum of three years and shall be made available for audit at the place of business during regular business hours.

Tire Dealers. A tire dealer is any dealer selling new tires in Louisiana. Listed below are tire dealer requirements:

Tire dealers must accept one waste tire for every new tire sold from the purchaser of the new tire at the time of purchase, unless the purchaser elects to retain the waste tire. Tire dealers shall be responsible for the collection of the waste tire fee upon the sale of each new passenger/light truck tire, medium truck tire, and new off-road tire. The fees are to be remitted to the state.
Tire dealers must provide notification to the public sector via signs, made available by the state, it is unlawful to improperly dispose of waste tires, they are required to collect a waste tire fee, and that the waste tire fee shall be listed on a separate line of the retail sales invoice. No tax of any kind shall be applied to this fee.

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

Louisiana Waste Tire Management Requirements (Chapter 105)

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.

Are you required to have a permit? If you generate or accumulate waste tires, you must notify the DEQ and obtain a generator identification number.
How many tires are stored? Do not store more than 150 tires at one time, unless stored in a transportable collection container. Do not store waste tires more than 120 days after receipt or generation. You may store waste tires a maximum of 365 days, provided that the storage is solely for the purpose of accumulating such quantities as are necessary to facilitate proper processing, and documentation supporting the storage period and the quantity required for proper processing are available at your facility for department inspection.
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 generate 50 or less waste tires per month from the sale of 50 new tires, you may self-transport the waste tires to an authorized collection or permitted processing facility.
Are you complying with all recordkeeping requirements? You must follow all manifest requirements, including tire eligibility, the flow of the manifest document, the procurement of signatures on the manifest and the retainer of manifest copies by the generator, transporter, facility operators and the state.

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

For more information, contact the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Office of Environmental Services at 225-219-3181.
To report a spill or leak, call the DEQ's 24-Hour Notification Hotline at 225-342-1234. You can access notification procedures at the DEQ's Single Point of Contact Procedures website.
To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the nearest regional office.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None.

Other Relevant Resources

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