Background, Problems, Alternatives & Legislation:
Background
The U.S. generates approximately 300 million scrap tires each year, with Illinois generating more than 12 million tires annually – the equivalent of one tire per person in the State. According to the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), markets exist for approximately 85% of scrap tires, such as tire derived fuel, civil engineering applications, and crumb rubber products. The Illinois EPA Used Tire Program was established in 1989. Since then, the Illinois EPA has cleaned up more than 20 million used/waste tires that were improperly discarded in Illinois.
Problems
- Discarded tires can serve as habitats for disease-carrying vectors, such as mosquitoes and rodents;
- Tires that are illegally burned contaminate the air, water and land; and
- Tires that are illegally stockpiled retain heat, making them prone to spontaneous combustion
Alternatives to Disposal
According to the Illinois EPA scrap tires can be used in road base, running tracks, playgrounds, horse arenas and tired derived fuel (TDF) that is blended with coal to produce electricity.
Legislation
To view existing Product Stewardship efforts in the U.S., visit the Product Stewardship Institute’s Map of EPR laws.
Illinois PSC 