ECAR Fact Sheet for Maryland
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

Piles of scrap tires are a significant fire hazard. They also make very appealing homes for pests, and breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other creatures. In the state of Maryland, any facility that receives, stores or accumulates scrap tires on-site must have a scrap tire collection facility license.

This fact sheet will tell you what you need to do to apply for such a license and will also help you manage the tires stored at your facility.

Regulations

Maryland has scrap tire rules that are applicable to auto recycling facilities that accumulate more than 1500 tires (indoor/outdoor combined) on-site at any one time during the year. However, if your facility accumulates any number of scrap tires on-site, you are required to be registered with MDE as a scrap tire collection facility. This license also allows you to transport tires to permitted scrap tire processing facility.

Permits. Auto recycling facilities that collect or accumulate scrap tires temporarily and transfer the tires to other licensed or approved scrap tire facilities must have a scrap tire collection facility license. The license categories are based on the number of scrap tires at a site at any one time:

For a new collector, an application must be submitted to MDE at least 30 days before the collector intends to begin operations. All scrap tire licenses and approvals must be renewed every 5 years. Download license application.

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

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

General Storage Requirements. The following rules apply to all primary scrap tire collectors.

• If the site receives scrap 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, blowtorches or highly flammable substances can be conducted within 50 feet of a scrap tire pile.
• Access to the facility shall be strictly controlled at all times through the use of fences, gates or other means of controlling entry.
• All-weather approach and access roads to the facility must be kept passable for any motor vehicle at all times.
• You must prepare and keep at the site an emergency preparedness manual. The manual must be submitted at the time the facility applies for a license and the manual becomes a part of the authorization. This manual shall be updated if a change in the operations of the scrap tire facility occurs, or if MDE requests an update.
• Fire protection services for the site must be coordinated with the local fire department.
• You must immediately notify MDE in the event of a fire or other emergency that poses an unanticipated threat to the public health or the environment.
• You must maintain records of the quantity of scrap 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).

Indoor Storage Requirements. All scrap tire sites, collection centers, processing facilities, and disposal facilities which store scrap 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, from the wall.
• The width of main aisles between tire piles must be not less than 8 feet.
• The clearance from the top of storage to sprinkler deflectors or roof structures must not be less than 3 feet.
• The clearance in any direction from unit heaters, radiant space heaters, duct furnaces, and flues must not be less than 3 feet.
• When scrap 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 4-hour fire rating.
• When scrap tires are stored over 15 feet high, walls between manufacturing and warehouse areas must have a fire rating of not less than 6 hours and steel columns must have 1-hour fireproofing. If the top of storage exceeds 20 feet in height, 2-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 scrap tire sites, collection centers and any processing or disposal facilities which store scrap tires outdoors must comply with the following additional technical and operational standards:

• A scrap 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 scrap 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 scrap 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 scrap tire fire from entering water bodies.
• The scrap tire site must be kept free of grass, underbrush, and other potentially flammable vegetation at all times.

Record Keeping. A scrap tire collector must record and maintain for 3 years the following information regarding its activities for each 3-month period of operation. The following records must be available for inspection by MDE personnel during normal business hours:

• The total quantity in number or weight of scrap tires collected.
• Where or from whom the scrap tires were collected and the quantity in number or weight, collected from each.
• Where the scrap tires were deposited and the quantity in number or weight deposited at each location.
• Receipts or other written materials documenting where all scrap tires were deposited, stored or disposed of for at least 3 years.

Transport of Scrap Tires.

The State of Maryland requires that anyone who, as part of a commercial business, transports 5 or more scrap tires in the state must be registered with the Maryland Department of the Environment as a scrap tire hauler.

A scrap tire hauler must only transport scrap tires to a permitted scrap tire processing facility. Scrap 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 7 days.

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

Code of Maryland Regulation Pertaining to Storage, Collection, Transferring, Hauling, Recycling, and Processing of Scrap Tires

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 scrap tire storage areas and management procedures.

1. Does the facility accumulate scrap tires? If the facility receives, stores or transports tires, verify that the facility has a current scrap tire collection facility license that was issued by MDE.
2. Are scrap tires properly stored? Depending on whether scrap tires are stored indoors or outdoors, certain storage requirements must be met. Verify that all requirements are being met.
3. Are scrap tire inventory records maintained and available in the event of a MDE inspection? Verify that facility maintains records for 3 years including inventory, locations of disposal/recycle facilities, and disposal/recycle receipts.
4. How are scrap tires transported for disposal/recycling? Verify that any vehicle transporting more than 5 tires at a time is registered with MDE and displays a current decal.
5. Where are scrap tires transported for disposal/recycling? Verify that scrap tires are being transported to a facility permitted by MDE specifically for scrap tire processing.

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 scrap tires indoors or outdoors with a cover to prevent the collection of standing water and to prevent mosquito larvae from thriving.
• 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.
• Transport stored scrap tires regularly to prevent large accumulations.
• Check with your MDE District Office for a list of permitted used tire processing facilities and transporters.
• Maintain disposal/recycling receipts for at least 3 years.

Contacts

1. MDE Solid Waste Program: 410-537-3315.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None identified.

Other Relevant Resources

1. Maryland's Scrap Tire Program
2. MDE’s Scrap Tire Management Licenses and Approvals
3. MDE's Hazardous Waste Program Webpage
4. Waste Diversion in Maryland
5. Waste Permit Applications and Instructions
6. Maryland Recycling Market Directory

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