Waste Tire Removal and Suppression Program

Proper management and disposal of waste & tires is a growing concern in Florida and throughout the nation. Approximately 290 million scrap tires were generated in 2003 in the U.S. with over 15 million coming directly from Florida. Along with finding beneficial uses for scrap tires, Broward County and partner communities are working to ensure that waste tires are properly stored, hauled and processed.

WASTE TIRE COLLECTION AND REMOVAL

Illegally dumped tires pose environmental and human health risks and create a litter problem. Local law and code enforcement agencies work in conjunction to clean up tire sites, which helps to reduce mosquito breeding grounds and fire hazards. Aggressive enforcement of Florida’s Waste Tire Law is essential in preventing future illegal dumping. The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), contracts with the Resource Recovery System to inspect tire retailers and performs tire hauler vehicle stops to ensure proper tire management practices. Educational seminars are also offered and provide information on waste tire rules and guidelines.

Broward residents may drop off passenger tires at any Trash Transfer Station during normal operating hours. Business-generated tires are not accepted.

To report illegally dumped tires within a Resource Recovery & Partner City, please call 954-321-4100.

Alternatives exist for tires that have reached the end of their automotive use. Crumb rubber from waste tires can be incorporated into new products such as rubberized asphalt, mats, and playground surfaces. Tire chips can also be used as landscaping mulch, fuel, and as daily landfill cover.

Through close cooperation with Waste and Recycling Services, a waste tire recycling  program was implemented at Fort Lauderdale High School. The program used ground tire rubber, mixed with a polymer, to resurface an existing running track– with modifications to meet the metric standard required for competitive track meets. The resurfaced running track was then sprayed with the school's colors and the lanes professionally marked.

The Manatee Play area located at West Lake Park in Hollywood houses a colorful pirate ship on a recycled waste tire surface made to look like a deep lagoon with swimming manatees and sea turtles. Approximately 42,000 pounds of recycled rubber from 8,000 tires was used to build the playground. The project was partially funded by a grant through Waste and Recycling Services.

Another example of the many uses of recycled waste tires is a path at Flamingo Gardens in Davie. The path is part of a wetland mitigation project (the Pioneer Walkway), and is only accessible by tram tour. The paved recycled tire path was funded by a grant through Waste and Recycling Services.

TIRE DISPOSAL

Rubber tires have a very high heating value which makes them a good source of fuel for waste-to-energy facilities. Tire-derived-fuel produces more energy than many types of coal and reduces landfill space, which would otherwise be needed for scrap passenger tires. Broward County's two Waste-to-Energy plants both supplement their fuel with scrap tires, providing beneficial electricity production.

For more information, call the Broward County Recycling Hotline 954-765-4999.

USEFUL LINKS

EPA Scrap Tire Management

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Tire Page

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Tire Safety