Pa. DEP Uses Largest Waste Tire Pile to Drive Innovation

“Waste tire piles pose a serious threat to the environment and public health,” Secretary McGinty said. “We have a unique opportunity here to step up to the challenge and find ways to use this waste as a resource that can power our economy and at the same time help to remove a long-standing threat to our environment.”

To hasten the cleanup, DEP is seeking innovative approaches that demonstrate the ability to beneficially use waste tires and promote a sustainable market-based outlet for the remaining tires on site. The goal is to identify a process or use so that the derived product is a Pennsylvania commodity, helping to boost the local and state economies. Ideas ultimately should remove tires from the site while finding ways to manufacture consumer products or consume the tires in lieu of other raw materials.

Projects should not require more than two years of funding. All the information received will be considered in the possible development of a grant program to fund innovative uses of waste tires from this property.

Processed tires can be used for high-value end-use products, including mats, playground surfaces or carpet underlayments. Processed tires also can be used for fuel or civil engineering projects that need back fill for walls and bridge abutments or subgrade insulation for roads. Whole tires can be used for erosion control, crash barriers and artificial reefs.

In March, DEP finalized terms of a legal agreement with Max and Martha Starr, owners of the property where an estimate 6 million to 10 million waste tires have accumulated since the early 1980s. Aside from a $400,000 civil penalty for failing to remove waste tires from their property, the Starrs also had to relinquish operational control of the pile to DEP but maintain liability insurance. DEP already has contacted more than 40 businesses that sent tires to the property to request removal.

Individuals with ideas about who to reuse waste tires should submit ideas to: DEP’s Office of Energy and Technology Development; ATTN: David Althoff c/o Starr Tire Pile; 400 Market St., 15th Floor; Harrisburg, PA 17101. Deadline for submission is Aug. 13.

DEP also will provide two site tours for the purpose of providing adequate access and information for those submitting ideas. To schedule a visit, contact James Miller at DEP’s Northcentral Regional Office at (570) 327-3653.

For more information, visit DEP’s Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword “Starr Tires.”