NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

April 15, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 108

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 in Seaford set for Saturday, April 24 
                 Citizens encouraged to recycle tires to protect the environment

Delaware residents are encouraged to help protect the environment by recycling scrap tires during Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., rain or shine, Saturday, April 24 at the Seaford boat ramp parking lot on Nanticoke Avenue.

DNREC is partnering with the city of Seaford to offer this free recycling event. Up to 10 tires – passenger car or light duty truck tires – can be dropped off, free of charge, per Delaware household; larger tires, tires on rims or bicycle tires will not be accepted.  Scrap tire drop-off is limited to Delaware residents; tires from commercial dealers will not be accepted.  Proof of residency is required – either a driver’s license or utility bill. 

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 produces 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. This is the fourth scrap tire drop-off event held by DNREC’s Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch.

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 on DNREC’s Scrap Tire Control and Cleanup Program, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Info/Pages/ScrapTire.aspx  or call 302-739-9403 or 1-800-662-8802, or e-mail Laurene.Eheman@state.de.us.

Directions to the Seaford Boat Ramp - From Alt. 13, Bridgeville Hwy/Front Street, turn west on High Street, then left/south on Porter Street.  Follow Porter Street around, as it becomes Nanticoke Ave.