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ECAR Fact Sheet for Rhode Island
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.
Regulations
Rhode Island’s Waste Tire Storage
and Recycling Facility regulations applies to all persons engaged
in the used tire recycling or recovery business within the state
that store or have designs to store in excess of 400 tires. If you
do not store more than 400 waste tires, these regulations do not
apply to your facility.
Permit
Requirements. If you store or have designs to store
in excess of 400 tires, you must apply for and obtain a license
to operate a waste tire recycling facility.
Storage Requirements. If you store more than 400 waste tires, the storage of the
tires must meet the following requirements:
- Whole tire
piles must not exceed 20 feet in height. Horizontal dimensions
of waste tire piles at the base of the pile must not exceed
200 feet in length and 50 feet in width.
- Waste
tire piles must have a minimum separation distance of 50 feet
between piles, and between a pile and buildings and other structures.
- Waste
tire piles must have a minimum separation distance of 200 feet
from property lines.
- The
facility must not store waste tires in excess of the quantity
for which the facility is licensed.
- Tires
that are chipped or shredded into 8 inch diameter pieces or
smaller may be stored in piles not exceeding 200 feet in length,
150 feet in width, and 20 feet in height.
- Waste
tires may not be stored in excess of 6 months. A facility must
be able to demonstrate that, on a throughput basis, it is processing
75 percent of the total amount of tires on site within a 6 month
period, or for each 6 month period the facility is in operation.
Tires must be unmounted. Any solid
waste resulting from facility operation must be stored in department
approved areas until removed from the facility. Facilities that
remove and recover rims may store mounted tires in a manner approved
by the Department and only for a time approved by the Department.
Fire
Prevention and Control. If you
store more than 400 waste tires, you must be in compliance with
the following fire prevention and control measures:
- Approved
roads to the facility and access roads within the facility must
be constructed for all weather conditions and must be maintained
in passable condition at all times to allow for access by fire
fighting and emergency response equipment.
- The
facility must be maintained free from weeds, trees, and vegetation
which may restrict access to or operations of the facility.
- The
facility must be constructed to prevent the uncontrolled collection
and pooling of water on the facility.
- Waste
tire facilities must have, at a minimum, a soil stockpile with
approximately 2000 cubic yards of soil available for each 4
acres of storage, and fully charged large capacity carbon dioxide
or dry chemical fire extinguishers located in strategically
placed enclosures throughout the entire facility in quantities
as deemed necessary in the operating plan.
- Waste
tire piles must have access to a water supply, such that any
part of the storage pile can be reached by using not more than
500 feet of hose, or a distance that is approved by the local
fire fighting company.
- Waste
tire piles must be accessible on all sides to fire fighting
and emergency response equipment.
- Due
to the specific fire hazard that tires represent, all waste
tire storage and recycling facilities are required to provide
surety or insurance in an amount sufficient to cover the cost
of handling the worst case contingency identified in the contingency
plan, or closure of the facility at its maximum capacity (whichever
is greater).
Vector Control. If
you store more than 400 waste tires waste tire, tire piles must
be maintained in a manner which limits mosquito breeding potential
and other vectors. Methods of acceptable vector control may include
one or more of the following:
- Covering
by plastic sheets or other impermeable barriers, other than
soil, to prevent the accumulation of precipitation.
- Chemical
treating to eliminate vector breeding provided all chemical
treatment programs used as part of the vector control plan first
receive Department approval.
- Mechanical
tire size reduction into pieces no larger than eight inches
in diameter, with storage in piles, that allows complete water
drainage.
- Other
methods that may be approved by the Mosquito Abatement Board.
Security Plan. If
you store more than 400 waste tires, facilities must be enclosed by a woven wire, chain-link or
other acceptable fence material, at least 6 feet in height. Access
must be controlled by lockable gates. Fences must be a minimum distance
of 200 feet from tire piles and tire processing areas.
Disposal. If you do not store more than 400
waste tires, specific disposal requirement do not apply to you.
However, make sure you dispose of your waste tires at approved recycling
facilities or landfills.
Transporter Requirements. If you do not store more than 400
waste tires, transport requirements do not apply to you. You are
allowed to self-transport your tires.
Recordkeeping/Reporting. If you do not store more than 400
waste tires, recordkeeping requirements do not apply to you.
Links
to the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to waste
tire management.
Rhode Island’s
Waste 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.
- Are you required to have a permit? If you store or have plans to
store more than 400 waste tires, you must obtain a license to operate a waste tire recycling
facility.
- Are you properly storing your waste tires? If you store more than 400
waste tires, you must comply with the state’s storage requirements.
- How many tires are stored? Do not store more than 400 tires
at one time.
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 Rhode Island
DEM, Office of Waste Management at
401-222-2797.
- To report a spill or leak, immediately call the
DEM at 401-222-1360 or, if after hours, call the
24-hour emergency number
at 401-222-3070.
- To report an environmental incident or complaint,
contact the DEM
Offices.
Related
ECAR Fact Sheets
None.
Other
Relevant Resources
- Rhode Island’s
Waste Tire Management Requirements
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