ECAR Fact Sheet for South Dakota
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

Waste 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

In 1998, South Dakota approved new rules governing the collection, transportation, storage, and processing of waste tires. The rules hold tire haulers/transporters responsible for ensuring that all tires are transported to a permitted facility or are used appropriately.  The rules also contain requirements governing stockpiling and/or temporary storage of tires. Finally, the new rules clearly state when a permit for temporary storage is required. 

South Dakota defines a waste tire generator as a person who produces waste tires in the course of retreading tires or buying, selling, or trading vehicles or tires.

Permit/Storage Requirements.  If you store less than 700 waste passenger tires or 700 passenger tire equivalents or 10 tires, whichever is the greatest weight at a waste tire generator's facility, and you meet the following conditions, you are not required to obtain a permit:

• Each waste tire pile must be surrounded by a 50-foot fire lane.
• Operations involving the use of open flames, blow torches, or highly flammable substances may not be conducted within 300 feet of a waste tire pile.
• All waste tire piles must be maintained free of mosquitos and rodents.
• Storage of waste tires may not exceed one year.

Transporter Requirements.  A waste tire hauler is a person who transports, at any one time, more than 20 waste passenger tires or passenger tire equivalent weight of other waste tires or transports more than 100 passenger tire equivalent per 12-month period. Waste tire haulers may only transport waste tires to an in-state solid waste facility permitted to accept waste tires for processing, storage, or disposal; to a person using waste tires in accordance with state law; or to an out-of-state facility approved or permitted by the responsible agency of that state.

Approved uses and disposal of certain waste tires (effective January, 2005). The use of waste tires is allowed as long as it does not constitute a nuisance. However, any burial or partial burial of a waste tire bale, tire shreds, whole tires or parts thereof, requires a permit be issued by the Board of Minerals and Environment in accordance with this article. A waste tire bale consists of any whole or cut waste tires that are compacted or mechanically formed into a bale and bound with wire or other similar materials.

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

South Dakota’s Waste Tire Rules

South Dakota’s Solid Waste 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.

1. Are you required to have a permit? If you store less than 700 waste passenger tires or 700 passenger tire equivalents or 10 tires, whichever is the greatest weight at a waste tire generator's facility and you meet required storage requirements, you do not have to obtain a permit.
2. How many tires are stored? Do not store more than 700 tires at one time.
3. Are you following scrap tire transport requirements? Waste tire haulers may only transport waste tires to an in-state solid waste facility permitted to accept waste tires for processing, storage, or disposal; to a person using waste tires in accordance with state law; or to an out-of-state facility approved or permitted by the responsible agency of that 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

1. For more information, contact the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Waste Management Program at 605-773-3153.
2. To report a spill or leak, call the DENR at 605-773-3296. To report the release after hours, on weekends or holidays, call State Radio Communications at 605-773-3231. DENR recommends that spills also be reported to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. You can get more information from the DENR Spill Response Website.
3. To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact the nearest regional office.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None.

Other Relevant Resources

1. South Dakota’s Waste Tire Handling Website
2. South Dakota’s Waste Tire Cleanup Website
3. South Dakota – Permit Applications
4. South Dakota – Solid Waste Permitting Guide

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