Free tire amnesty program gives old tires new life

April 9, 2012

A single car or truck tire is composed of 70 percent rubber, 15 percent steel and 15 percent nylon fiber.  To unleash these valuable resources locked up in old tires they have to be properly recycled.

The Solano County's Tire Amnesty Program makes it easy and free to recycle old tires – car, truck, bicycle, tractor and ATV – as well as the rims and steel wheels. Pre-registration is under way at http://Recycle.SolanoCounty.com and will continue through June 30 or until grant funds from CalRecycle are depleted.  A voucher will be generated from the website that outlines when and where participants can drop off the old tires.

Since September 2011, Solano County has diverted more than 4,600 tires from landfills through participation in the program. All of the tires were recycled.

"Participants can be assured these tires are not being landfilled and not being shipped overseas," said Narcisa Untal, Solano County Integrated Waste Management Planner. “Instead, these tires are being recycled at state-approved tire shredding and crumb rubber production facilities located right here in Northern California to create new products for the marketplace.”

The nylon fiber is re-used in the production of new carpets, the steel is recycled to make new steel, and the remaining rubber is pulverized into fine granular pieces known as crumb rubber.  Crumb rubber gives old tires a variety of new lives, including being part of artificial grass, landscape and playground materials, outdoor furniture and rubberized asphalt concrete, which is used to resurface roads.

The program is open to all Solano County residents, growers, ranchers and farmers who have waste tires generated from illegal dumping, stockpiling, use of personal or recreational vehicles and land management equipment. Waste tire generating businesses or waste tire haulers are not eligible for the Tire Amnesty Program.

Tires of all sizes and types are accepted. The maximum number of tires allowed per address is 40 tires per month, subject to waste tire hauling limits. One voucher is good for up to 20 tires.  If hauling 10 to 20 tires, an exemption letter from the waste tire hauling requirements is required and can be obtained as part of the pre-registration process at http://Recycle.SolanoCounty.com.

For more information, call (707) 784-6765 or email nuntal@solanocounty.com.