Houston to require licenses to handle scrap tires

The city of Houston has begun enforcement of its Scrap Tire Ordinance following a six-month grace period. Under the ordinance, approved by Houston City Council in 2015, all scrap tire operations in the city are required to register with the city and establishes regulations and procedures for the safe transportation, storage, recordkeeping and proper disposal of scrap tires.

“More than 19,000 tires have been hauled away since February as the city works to clean up illegal dump sites that can serve as breeding grounds for the mosquito-born Zika Virus,” says Mayor Sylvester Turner. “This is a huge problem in our neighborhoods, and we have to attack it from every angle.”

All businesses that are involved in the used/scrap tire business will be required to register and/or obtain a permit annually with the city. Tire transporters must display a city-issued decal on their trucks. Tire generators must allow inspection of their records annually. 

Starting July 1, 2016, inspectors will be visiting businesses to check for compliance. The cost to register is $93.93 for businesses that generate scrap tires and $172 for entities that transport tires. Owners who refuse to register with the city will be ticketed. Fines are $250 per day, per offense.