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S: 7:30 - Noon
Transfer Station:
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S: 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Your SCISWA Quick Tip
Tire Recycling
The Problem with Waste Tires
More than just an eyesore, waste tire pollution can be hazardous to your health.
Over 240 million tires are discarded in the U.S. every year - 3 million in Iowa alone! Currently 76 percent of those tires are recovered by recycling. Unfortunately most of the rest of those tires end up in illegal stockpiles, landfills or in creeks, ditches and ravines.
There are many problems associated with waste tire disposal:
Burying Tires Prohibited
Burying whole tires at the landfill has been prohibited in Iowa since 1991. Tires are difficult to compact and do not decompose easily. Not only do these tires take up valuable landfill space, but over time, the tires tend to float to the top, working their way up through the waste and soil. Once they break through the surface, the landfill's cover is broken, exposing its contents to insects, rodents and birds and allowing landfill gases to escape.
Tire Fires
Tire fires are extremely dangerous and the most difficult problem associated with stockpiled waste tires. These fires:
- Are Difficult to Extinguish - The thing that make tires good for fuel, unfortunately also make tire fires difficult to put out. Large tire fires can burn for a long time depleting fire-fighting resources.
- Pollute the Air - Hazardous compounds and potentially toxic gases are released in the thick black smoke coming from tire fires.
- Contaminate the Ground - The oil and ash created during fires can contaminate the ground, thus endangering our ground and surface waters and the water that we drink.
Pests
Tire dumps and improperly discarded tires are ideal breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and rodents. Tires retain water and absorb sunlight, providing a warm, cozy environment, suitable for raising large families of these not-so-lovable vermin. During summer, mosquitoes can be a nuisance and have been known to transmit diseases to humans.
Proper Tire Disposal
State law requires tire retailers to accept your old tires at the time your purchase new ones (usually for a small fee). This is the best way to dispose of used tires. You may also drop-off tires at these locations (for a small fee):
Drop-off locations:
- Poweshiek Transfer Station
8 miles East of Grinnell
on Hwy 6 & 63
641-528-2801 - SCISWA Landfill
1736 Hwy T17 Tracy, IA 50256
641-828-8545
Tire processors/recyclers:
For large numbers of tires, contact:
Greenman Tires
1914 E. Euclid
Des Moines, IA 50317
515-262-4900
List provided by the Iowa DNR. Call 515-281-8489 for more information.
Waste Tire News
The Iowa Tire Initiative
Over 20 counties in Iowa have joined together to form the Iowa Tire Initiative. The purpose is to promote education on proper tire maintenance and disposal. A media campaign was launched in March 2000 with billboards, radio, TV and newspaper ads. Also, a toll-free number was established enabling residents of each county to find out about tire recycling opportunities in their areas. It is 1-877-85-TIRES.
The waste tire education campaign continued with increased advertising about proper tire disposal. Three billboards were located throughout the area as well.
Tire video available
A 13 minute video on tire recycling targeted to high school students is available to borrow from SCISWA. The video, produced by SEMCO with a grant from the DNR, talks about the hazards of improperly disposed tires, recycled uses for tires, proper disposal practices and tire preventive maintenance. It is ideal for drivers education classes.
To borrow the video, call us at 641-828-8545.
DNR Contacts
Mel Pins, County Grant Program, 515-281-8489, mpins@dnr.state.ia.us
Paul Lundy, Waste Tire storage, collection, processing permints, 515-281-8912
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building
502 E. 9th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Fax: 515-281-8895
The solution to waste tire pollution?
Reducing waste at the source - What can you do?
According to the state's solid waste management hierarchy, reducing waste at the source - keeping it out of the waste stream in the first place - is the preferred method of handling solid waste. Prolonging the life of tires will therefore reduce the number of waste tires generated. Besides that, it can save you money!
The longest lasting ordinary tire can go to 80,000 miles and high performance tires can last up to 68,000 miles. Yet the average U.S. car owner gets only between 35,000 and 40,000 miles from a tire. So most tires are trashed before their time due mostly to the two most common causes of tire death - improper care and neglect. With the problems associated with tire disposal and the cost of new tires, it only makes good sense - both environmentally and economically - for consumers to practice these waste reduction maintenance and driving habit suggestions:
- Keep wheels balanced - An out-of-balance wheel will be literally pulled out of shape at high speeds, increasing the tire wear.
- Rotate tires regularly - It's important to rotate tires frequently because tires do not wear evenly on all four wheels. Tires on the rear axle wear down 30% to 100% faster than those on the front, unless your car has front or 4-wheel drive. If that's the case, the front tires will show more wear.
- Check tires often for damage - Inspect your tires at least once a month for punctures, cracks and signs of abnormal wear. To promote long tire life, have all tire repairs made on the inside of the tire.
- Maintain proper pressure - Too much or too little air shortens the life of a tire. Underinflation is worse than overinflation. A 40,000-mile tire will lose 4,000 miles of its life if it's underinflated by 4 pounds per square inch (psi). Look on the sidewall or the edge of the driver's door for the recommended pressure. Remember, the number shown is the MAXIMUM amount of air the tire should have when COLD. You should check your tire pressure at least once a month with a hand gauge when the tires are cold.
- Keep wheels aligned - Improperly aligned tires can increase tire wear tenfold over normal use. Check alignment frequently if you drive often on rough roads.
- Replace tires when there is 1/16" of tread left - All new tires have "wear bars" that indicate when there is only 1/16 of an inch of tread left on the tire. When you see the bars, the tires should be replaced or retreaded. Studies show 90% of all tire trouble occurs in the last 10% of tread wear and bald tires are 44 times more likely to have a flat or blow-out than treaded tires.
- Avoid cornering at high speeds - "Squealing" tires at corners drastically shortens their mileage life. It's also a clear indication that one is taking a corner at higher speeds than recommended safe speeds!
- Avoid rough roads and potholes - Careful driving on rough roads can help reduce tire wear. Slow down and try to avoid hitting potholes or road obstructions.
- Avoid sudden stops and starts - Smooth driving habits prolong tire life and save gas. When you stop or start abruptly, rubber tears off the tire at the road surface. Even normal stop and go traffic wears away tire tread 7 times faster than steady driving.
- Avoid excess speed - High-speed driving builds up heat in the tire, which can rapidly deteriorate rubber. A study of truck tires showed that a tire which lasts 80,000 miles driven at 40 mph only lasts 32,000 driven at 60 mph.
- Use the correct tire size - Tires are sized by diameter and width and are rated by their weight-carrying capacity. A tire that is too small for the vehicle, for instance, would carry too much weight and wear out faster. Overloading a tire by as little at 10% significantly decreases its life.
- Pick the right tire type - When considering which of the three basic types (bias, belted bias and radials) to purchase, consider the trade-off between purchase price and the life of the tire. For example, bias tires are the cheapest to buy but also have the shortest life and mileage guarantee.
