Illinois EPA's used tire program protects public health, safety and integrity of the environment

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Used Tire Program this year conducted more than 1,000 inspections of used and waste tire sites and more than 120 cleanups of illegal tire dumps,  to minimize the adverse impact that illegal waste tire accumulations have on public health and the environment.  In total, the actions of the Illinois EPA's Used Tire Program have resulted in the removal of more than 800,000 used and waste tires during 2007. 

 

The Illinois EPA removes illegally dumped tires through consensual tire removals for individual property owners, through countywide collections and through enforcement actions. 

 

Through the 34 countywide used tire collections conducted in 2007, the Illinois EPA collected more than 500,000 used and waste tires.  These collection events are open to all Illinois residents, regardless of the county in which they reside, and allow each individual to bring in up to 1,000 tires for one-time free disposal.  The resident must, however, agree in writing to never again accumulate tires.

 

Businesses that generate used tires as a result of their normal operations are not eligible to participate in an Agency-sponsored collection event.

 

"Since the Illinois EPA's Used Tire Program was established in 1989, we have removed over 15 million used and waste tires from Illinois' environment," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott.  "With Illinois producing more than 12 million used tires each year, the Agency's Used Tire Program has been very successful in making sure that these tires are disposed of properly." 

 

The Illinois EPA also conducts individual consensual removals, during which the tires are collected from the property by a contractor at no cost to the property owner.  Again, the resident must agree in writing to never illegally accumulate tires.  More than 80 of these individual consensual removals have been conducted in 2007.

 

When the Illinois EPA finds an accumulation of waste tires that poses a threat to public health or the environment, the agency takes enforcement action.  An administrative notice is issued that requires the property owner to remove the tires, and take the necessary corrective action that eliminates the public health threat.

 

Once collected, the Agency transports most of the tires to a shredding facility, where they are typically processed into tire derived fuel, which can be burned with coal to generate electrical power.  Shredded tires are also recycled into products, such as crumb rubber.  Crumb rubber is used in the construction of all-weather running tracks, as the ground cover for playgrounds and landscaping mulch, and in the production of rubberized asphalt.  Crumb rubber is also used to create rubber products such as floor mats for cars.

 

Tires that are inappropriately disposed of serve as habitat for disease-carrying mosquitoes and can lead to tire fires that can contaminate the air, land and water.  Because whole tires have been banned from landfills, they often end up in unmanaged and illegal tire dumps.  The tires in these dumps accumulate stagnant water that serves as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes that can potentially carry harmful diseases.  The primary carrier of the West Nile virus is the Northern House mosquito, whose presence is highly observed at illegal waste tire dumps. 

 

Another dangerous and environmentally hazardous aspect of tire dumps is the risk of fire.  Tire fires burn very hot and are extremely difficult to extinguish.  Also, when surrounded by the extreme heat of the fire, the tires can melt into an oily substance that, when drenched with water, can form a harmful run-off that can contaminate nearby surface water.  Regardless if dumps are in rural or urban areas, they pose a risk to a large number of people, particularly children, the elderly, and those individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.

 

The Agency's Used Tire Program is funded by the $2 tire user fee charged to retail tire customers in Illinois.  The Illinois EPA relies on the public to help identify improperly-managed used and waste tires.  If you would like to contact the Illinois EPA's Used Tire Program, please call 217/785-8604.