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Waste Tires

In 1990, the Utah Legislature enacted the Waste Tire Recycling Act in order to eliminate tire piles scattered throughout Utah, promote tire recycling and create new industry and jobs in Utah. Tire piles present health and environmental hazards.

In past years, several tire piles have burned, resulting in environmental pollution and risk to the public. When waste tires catch on fire they release enormous amounts of oil that are contained in the tires.

Furthermore, waste tire fires release toxic fumes that are detrimental to air quality. Tire piles are also a breeding ground for disease carrying mosquitoes. The Act provides rebates for tires recycled and is funded through a .50 cent recycling fee on new tires that are purchased in Utah.

The fees are combines and used to reimburse tire recyclers for their expenses. The fee acts as an incentive to develop ways to recycle or reuse waste tires so they do not end up in illegal piles or buried in landfills. Recyclers in the State have developed ways to use waste tires as an alternative to coal and natural gas in cement kilns. A recycler has also developed a way to create crumb rubber out of the waste tires and this product is then used in tracks and fields.

Most dealers will accept your old tires when you purchase new tires, they will charge you to do this. There is one recycler located in Salt Lake City that will accept waste tires for a nominal fee. The facility is located at 1398 Beck Street in Salt Lake City, their phone number is (801) 364-7900.

The program has been very successful by providing incentives to develop recycling and reuse opportunities for waste tires. The market that now exists for waste tires has led to the elimination of all big waste tire piles in the State. Furthermore, the Bill has led to the development of creative and marketable uses for waste tires so they are not unnecessarily disposed of in our landfills using up valuable space. Waste tires contain a lot of oil and the use of them as a fuel alternative has help decrease fuel costs for several local industries.

If you have questions about the Waste Tire Program, you can contact our office at 313-6700.