New Federal Strategy Targets Millions of Abandoned Tires
The EPA plans to reclassify scrap tires as fuel to accelerate the removal of waste piles from American communities.
The EPA issued a proposal Friday aimed at clearing millions of abandoned tires from landscapes across the country by encouraging their use as an energy source.
The proposal seeks to address health and safety risks associated with tire piles, which can become breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests and pose significant fire hazards. By reclassifying these abandoned scrap tires as non-waste fuel, the agency intends to streamline the process for their disposal and use in industrial settings.
According to agency data, approximately 48 million abandoned tires remain in at least 23 states and on Tribal lands. Under the new rule, cement kilns would be permitted to use whole abandoned tires as a fuel source. Additionally, the proposal would allow established collection programs to manage all scrap tires used for energy recovery under a uniform set of standards.
“Abandoned tire piles across the U.S. pose a threat to the health and safety of Americans,” said Thomas Croci, acting assistant administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. “Our latest proposal provides a approach to better clean up scrap tires and realize their potential as fuel.”
The agency stated that the shift would help reduce the visual blight of tire dumps while enhancing the recovery of energy resources.
Public comments on the proposal will be accepted for 60 days, with the formal comment period closing May 22, 2026.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.
