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ECAR Fact Sheet for New Hampshire
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
Whole 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.
The
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) has prepared
a guidance document to help auto recyclers manage scrap tires. Much
of the information is included in the fact sheet below. You can
access the DES’s “Management of Used Motor Vehicle Batteries,” under
Other Relevant Resources.
Regulations
Scrap
tires are regulated as a solid waste in New Hampshire. The state
has specific requirements for collecting, storing, transferring,
processing, treating and landfilling tires. A solid waste management
facility permit is required in most instances.
Permit Requirements. A solid waste permit is required
to collect, store and transfer scrap tires unless the tires are
sent directly for salvage and re-use as tires. No permit is required
to actively collect, store and transfer source separated tires that
pass inspection in New Hampshire and may be legally re-used as tires.
A permit is required, however, to collect mixed loads of usable
and non-usable tires where the usable tires are then sorted out.
Storage. Tires may be collected and stored in outdoor transfer containers
or on the ground. If stored on the ground, the stockpiles must be
no greater than 25 feet in diameter and 15 feet in height, or less
if required by local fire officials. In addition, fire lanes at
least 25 feet wide must be maintained around each stockpile, and
a berm no less than 12 inches in height must surround each stockpile
to contain pyrolitic oils or other liquids resultant to firefighting.
Further, the storage facility must have equipment, cover material
and other supplies, including water, sufficient to control a fire
until the nearest fire company capable of extinguishing the fire
arrives.
If
stored indoors, the storage facility must comply with the Standards
for Storage of Rubber Tires, N.F.P.A. 231D, 1994 edition, as adopted
by the National Fire Protection Association.
Whether
stored indoors or outdoors, precautions must be taken to prohibit
the establishment of a habitat for breeding mosquito populations.
Limit the size of tire piles and ship tires off-site as soon as
you accumulate a full load. Collecting tires in a trailer keeps
them dry and ready for prompt shipping without additional handling.
If tires must be stored outside, covering the pile with plastic
will help to minimize the collection of water.
Transportation. The
transportation of tires, either whole or chipped, must occur safely
and in a manner that prevents blowing or falling debris.
Disposal.
Tires must be disposed of at an authorized
facility or by landfilling at an authorized facility. Landfilling
is the least preferred option for managing scrap tires. However,
when landfilled, tires must first be quartered, split or shredded
to reduce the potential for the tires to resurface.
Links
to the Regulations and Forms. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to waste tire
management.
New
Hampshire Scrap Tire Management Requirements
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.
- How
many tires are stored? Store as few tires as possible and
minimize on-site tire piles. Be sure tire piles are accessible to fire and emergency vehicles.
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 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.
Contacts
- For more information, contact the New Hampshire
DES Waste Management Division at
603-271-2900.
- To report a spill or leak during business hours, call
the DES at 603-271-3899. If after hours or the weekend, call the
New Hampshire State Police Hazardous Material Response at 800-346-4009
(in-state), or 603-271-3636 (out-of-state).
- To report an environmental incident or complaint,
contact the nearest regional office
or link to the DES Public Information
Center.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
None.
Other
Relevant Resources
- New Hampshire – Scrap
Tire Management
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