January 19, 2006

The Department of Environmental Quality announced today that over two million scrap tires have been removed from an Allegan County site that posed an environmental hazard for the last 12 years. The DEQ, through its Scrap Tire Grant Program, has removed a total of 2,270,000 tires, which includes 770,000 removed in 1998 as an emergency measure to clear fire lanes through the tires. Allegan County was today awarded another grant to finish the cleanup of the approximately 200,000 tires that remain on the site.

Scrap tires pose a threat not only to our environment, but to the public health of Michigan as well. Run-off from scrap tire fires can contaminate groundwater and surface water, and scrap tire sites are an ideal habitat for the breeding of mosquitoes carrying disease such as the West Nile Virus.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with Allegan County to remove this threat to their community,” said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. “The DEQ's scrap tire program certainly lives up to our goal of protecting Michigan's environment, and ensuring our future success as a state.”

This cleanup of this site, located on the west side of US-131 at the Martin exit, is the culmination of years of litigation. The site has changed ownership numerous times over the years, making it necessary for multiple court hearings for the DEQ to gain access to the site. The last hearing ended in Allegan County Court on May 6, 2005, at which time Judge George Corsiglia fined the current owners, Alternative Fuels of Barryton, and granted the state access to the site. The court’s ruling allowed Allegan County to apply for and be awarded a scrap tire cleanup grant of $1,050,000 from the DEQ and to begin the cleanup. Entech, Inc., of White Pigeon brought shredders on-site and worked two shifts through the summer to remove a total of 1,500,000 scrap tires.

The DEQ’s Scrap Tire Program is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the proper disposal of all scrap tires generated in the state and the cleanup of existing scrap tire piles in amounts of 500 or more. Program staff regularly inspects scrap tire collection sites, processors, end-users, and generators, which include tire dealers and auto scrap yards.

Inspection of scrap tire collection sites includes the collection of mosquito larval samples for analysis by the Department of Community Health to ensure that a site is not creating an unhealthy living environment for the community around it.

Funding for the program is primarily from a $1.50 surcharge on all vehicle title fees charged by the Secretary of State. This funding provides staff salaries and Scrap Tire Cleanup Grants for the removal and processing of scrap tires from existing piles. It also provides funding for Scrap Tire End-User and Market Development Grants to increase the end-use and markets for scrap tires.

Since the Legislature first appropriated funding in 1993, $13.5 million has been used for the cleanup of approximately 11.7 million tires at over 1,000 sites throughout the state. Approximately $3.9 million was allocated for Fiscal Year 2006 and it is anticipated that over three million tires will be removed this year from illegal scrap tire sites. An additional four to five million tires have been cleaned up through compliance and enforcement efforts.

It is illegal to dispose of whole motor vehicle tires in a landfill. Most of the tires from cleanups are processed to two-inch chips and then burned as a supplemental fuel used in the generation of electricity and the manufacturing of cement. The chips are also used in some areas for landscaping activities and drain fields.

Individuals can help reduce the number of scrap tires generated by following simple steps that increase tire life: ensure that tires are inflated to proper levels, check inflation levels weekly, drive according to the legal speed limit, reduce speed around corners, and avoid quick starts and stops. Tires should be properly balanced, aligned, and rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, and vehicles should not be overloaded. Taking each of these steps reduces wear on tires, saves money, and reduces the need for tire disposal.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised January 19, 2006 by Pat Watson