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Maryland generates more than five million scrap tires annually. In 1991, Maryland’s Legislature established a program to address these tires, and the millions of tires that existed in large tire dumps scattered across the state. Tire dumps pose a significant threat to public health, because rainwater trapped inside them breeds mosquitoes that can carry dangerous diseases such as West Nile virus. Also, when they catch fire, tires release petrochemicals that can cause contamination in the air, water and soil.
Cleaning Up the Stockpiles
To deal with this threat, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has worked to clean up tire stockpiles. During fiscal year 2005 (FY05), Maryland generated 5.6 million scrap tires. Of these, 70 percent were recycled or used as fuel in Maryland, and 30 percent were exported for recycling or disposal. Maryland requires generators, haulers, and recyclers of scrap tires to obtain licenses, and to report the number of tires that are handled. MDE inspects these facilities to ensure that they are managing scrap tires correctly. “The continuing success and accomplishments of the scrap tire program in Maryland has served as a model to other states for solving a difficult environmental issue,” stated MDE Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick.
During FY05, there were 3,135 valid scrap tire licenses. MDE performed over 700 scrap tire inspections, and found 98 percent of inspected facilities in compliance. If a property owner does not cooperate with MDE to clean up a tire site, MDE uses the Scrap Tire Fund to abate these sites. This fund is generated by a fee on the sale of new tires (currently 80 cents for each new tire sold in Maryland).
In the 13 years since the Scrap Tire Program began, more than 8.4 million tires have been recovered from 625 tire dumps. Approximately 91 percent of all stockpile site cleanups last year were by administrative means (without using the Scrap Tire Fund except to support MDE staff and inspection activities).
MDE also works with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) to develop new products and markets for scrap tire-derived recycled products. MDE and MES are participating in a variety of projects to demonstrate and encourage the use of recycled scrap tire products. These projects include using scrap tires in constructing playgrounds, green roofs, rubberized asphalt, athletic fields, landscaping, and many other applications.
Tread Spread
MES also has a recycling facility that makes crumb rubber for use in many kinds of products, such as the popular permanent rubber mulch called “Tread Spread”. For more information on this product, go to www.treadspread.com.
For more information on Maryland scrap tire activities, see the annual scrap tire reports at MDE’s website.
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