ECAR Fact Sheet for Pennsylvania
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

Hazards associated with waste tire piles include heavy mosquito infestations and fires. Waste tires accumulate water, which is a viable environment and ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes not only are nuisances, but also can carry and transmit disease to humans and animals.

In addition to being breeding grounds for mosquitoes, waste tires also can be easily ignited, resulting in fires that are difficult to extinguish. Tire fires can burn for several weeks, causing millions of dollars of damage including soil, surface water and groundwater contamination.

Regulations

Since 1992, the state of Pennsylvania has classified waste tires as a residual waste rather than a solid waste. Below is a summary of the residual waste requirements that apply to auto recyclers who store waste tires, either whole or processed.

Storage. Pennsylvania's waste tire regulations do not apply to you if you store less than 500 waste tires in open storage, or if you store less then 1,500 waste tires in enclosed storage (unless the open or enclosed storage threatens or causes harm to the public health, safety, welfare or the environment.) In addition, the regulations may be waived or modified for small piles at the location of waste tire generators.

*Waste tires (whole or processed) may not be stored for more than one year. When storing tires at your facility, you must follow the National Fire Protection Association's Standard for Storage for Rubber Tires. Stockpile measurements, fire lane size, storage time limitations, total waste tire site size, restrictions about location of tires and effective emergency management to avoid tire fire hazards are detailed in Section 299.155 of the Pennsylvania Code.

Notification. If you plan to store more than 500 tires outdoors or 1500 indoors, you must notify the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by submitting the appropriate DEP form. (A link is included under Links to the Regulations and Forms). The notification must include:

1. A brief description of the type and number of whole waste tires and the type and weight or volume of processed waste tires being stored at the waste tire storage site.
2. A brief description of the physical design and layout of the waste tire storage site, including a description of structures used for storing whole and processed waste tires and their locations at the storage site, a diagram of the locations and approximate sizes of any piles of whole and processed waste tires at the storage site and a description of the location of emergency equipment at the storage site.
3. The approximate date upon which the operator began to store 500 or more waste tires in open storage or 1,500 or more waste tires in enclosed storage.
4. Information showing how the operator will comply with   299.155(c) (relating to storage of whole and processed waste tires).
5. The address of the storage site and the individual responsible for operating the storage site.
6. Verification of landowner consent to operate a waste tire storage site.

Recording Keeping. If you store whole or processed waste tires, you must submit to DEP an annual operation report on or before June 30 of each year. The report must include:

1. The weight and approximate number of whole and processed waste tires that were being stored at the storage site on January 1 of the preceding calendar year, and the approximate number of whole and processed waste tires that were being stored at the storage site on December 31 of the preceding calendar year.
2. The weight and approximate number of whole and processed waste tires that were received at the storage site in the preceding calendar year, the person and location from which they were shipped and the name of the transporter.
3. The weight and approximate number of whole and processed waste tires that were shipped from the site in the preceding calendar year, the person and location to which they were shipped and the end use for which they were shipped.

Transportation. Waste tires must be transported to a processing or disposal facility by a transporter that is certified by DEP. Processing and disposal facilities are not permitted to accept waste tires without this authorization. This is a recent change to the state regulations.

Waste tire haulers must maintain a record of waste tires transported weekly. The records must be on an Annual Report form provided by DEP and include authorization number, number of waste tires transported and the company where the waste tires were delivered and disposed of. The records must be maintained for five years and provided to DEP personnel upon request.

Disposal. Tires should be sent for recycling or energy recovery as soon as possible. Markets are developing for alternative end uses for rubber. These alternatives include energy recovery at cement, paper/pulp, and utility companies and the making of asphalt rubber. You must send your tires to a DEP-certified waste tire processing or disposal facility.

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

Storage of Whole and Processed Waste Tires (PA Code, Chapter 299, Storage and Transportation of Residual Waste, Section 299.155, Storage of Whole and Processed Waste Tires).

DEP Notification Form for Storage of Waste Tires (PA requires you to log in as a guest)

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.

1. How many tires are stored? Make sure that if you store more than 500 tires outdoors or 1500 indoors that you follow Pennsylvania's residual waste requirements.

2. Have you submitted proper notification? If you fall under the requirements, you must submit a notification form to DEP.

3. Have you kept complete and accurate records? Verify that you have maintained complete and accurate records regarding your waste tire amounts and storage. You will need this information to comply with the state's annual reporting requirements.

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 by a properly DEP permitted hauler.
• 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

1. For additional information, contact the Pennsylvania Waste Tire Program at 1-800-346-1932 or 717-787-7381.
2. To check on any special county ordinances concerning scrap tires, contact your county manager or county solid waste office.
3. To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the DEP Field Office.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None.

Other Relevant Resources

1. PA DEP Waste Tire Program
2. Notice by Waste Tire Storage Site Operators 2500-FM-BWM0431 (pdf) or (word)
3. General Permit WMGR038 (pdf) for Processing and Beneficial Use of Waste Tires
4. PA DEP What Tire Pile Owners Should Know About West Nile Virus

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