Report Details Michigan Scrap Tire Program

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) has released a report on the effectiveness of the state's scrap tire program that concludes it has succeeded in decreasing scrap tires stockpiles, increasing compliance rates at scrap tire sites and improving the reuse markets for scrap tires.

In a news release, the DNRE says the ongoing Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant Program is helping to address abandoned scrap tire sites, as well as inspection and enforcement actions at existing scrap tire sites to ensure a level playing field for those meeting the requirements of Michigan's scrap tire law.

Unregulated management of scrap tires led to an estimated 30 million tires stockpiled throughout the state by 1991. Since Michigan's Legislature first appropriated funding in 1993, the scrap tire program has resulted in the removal of about 31.1 million passenger tire equivalents (PTEs) through its grant program, says the DNRE.

The state estimates that an additional 1 million PTEs will be removed during the fiscal year 2010 grant cycle.

The programs have also meant that “a large and continuing supply of scrap tires has become available for use in the marketplace,” says the DNRE, adding that the supply has increased Michigan scrap tire market capacity from less than 3 million to more than 18.5 million PTEs per year.

At current cleanup rates, it is likely that the remaining known stockpiles of scrap tires can be cleaned up by the funding sunset date of December 31, 2012. However, the DNRE report states that “continued administration and enforcement under the program are also necessary to ensure that market prices for the beneficial uses of scrap tires are not undercut by the lower costs of unmanaged storage.”

Those seeking to read the full report can go to http://tiny.cc/MSLHz.