Pennsylvania DEP Announces Tire Pile Cleanup Projects

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has initiated two projects to clean up what it estimates are 400,000 abandoned tires at piles in Lancaster and Beaver counties.

According to a DEP release, the agency’s Waste Tire Program developed a priority list of 17 abandoned tire sites in need of remediation, based on a number of environmental and hazardous criteria. Topping the list was the McFadden pile containing 350,000 tires in Fulton Township, and the 50,000-tire pile at Jake Ours Junkyard in Rochester Township.

“Cleaning up these sites, which have been long-standing nuisances, is of great interest to the state,” says acting DEP Secretary Michael Krancer said. “These sites have been the subject of frequent complaints, and we’re taking action.”

Cleanup of the abandoned tire piles will be the first two projects funded by Act 24 of 2010 as set forth by the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act. The law allocates $1.25 million annually over four consecutive years for tire cleanup projects.

The department is seeking professional contractual bids for services and “Invitation for Bid” documents are available on the state’s eMarketplace Web site. For more information, visit http://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/ and click on "Solicitations" or visit http://www.dep.state.pa.us/ keyword: Waste Management.