Oct. 17, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 475

Contact: Laurene Eheman, Solid and Hazardous Waste Section, Division of Air and Waste Management, 302-739-9403; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

                                                      Scrap Tire Drop-off Day Set for Saturday, Oct. 25
                                                                           Citizens Encouraged to Recycle Tires

Delaware residents are encouraged to recycle scrap tires, free of charge, during citizen drop-off day 7 a.m. – 2 p.m., rain or shine, Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Delaware Solid Waste Authority Rt. 5 Transfer Station, 29997 John P. Healy Drive near Harbeson. The Transfer Station is located on Del. Route 5 near Fairmont, between Hollyville and Beaver Dam Roads.

Up to 10 tires – passenger car or light duty truck tires – can be dropped off per Delaware household; larger tires, tires on rims or bicycle tires will not be accepted. Scrap tire drop-off is limited to residents; tires from commercial dealers will not be accepted. Proof of residency is required – either a driver’s license or utility bill. For more information contact DNREC, (302) 739-9403 or (800) 662-8802.

The Scrap Tire Drop-off Day is a partnership among DNREC, the Delaware Solid Waste Authority and Independent Disposal Services.

DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch manages the state program created to eliminate large, unsightly scrap tire piles that can pose hazards to human health and the environment. Tire piles can spawn dangerous fires that produce toxic smoke, and the oily liquid runoff from melted tires can pollute groundwater. In addition, tire piles can be the dominant source of a local mosquito problem.

Delaware producers more than 750,000 scrap tires a year. While many of these tires are recycled or properly disposed, some end up in stockpiles or in illegal dumps around the state. The state program helps defray the cost of cleanup of scrap tire piles created before June 30, 2006 and comprising more than 100 tires.

The Delaware Scrap Tire Cleanup and Control Program is funded by a state fee of $2 per tire on the sale of new tires. Enacted Jan. 1, 2007, the fee is diverted to the Scrap Tire Management Fund, a matching fund and program created to clean up existing scrap tire piles statewide.

For more information visit DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Info/Pages/ScrapTire.aspx  or contact the Scrap Tire Control and Cleanup Program at 302-739-9403.