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Where (And Why) TireBuyer Collects State Tire Fees

In many states, a fee applies to every purchase of new tires. In most cases, these fees are collected by the tire seller – so here at TireBuyer, we may collect your state’s fees when you purchase tires. While nobody likes paying fees, state tire fees go to a very good cause – the collection, storage, processing, and use of scrap tires. State-funded tire recycling programs are responsible for decreasing the number of stockpiled scrap tires in the U.S. from more nearly 580 million in 1994 to around 111 million in 2010.

Scrap tire legislation has been a priority in many states in recent years, largely because of the effect of tires on the environment. Tires aren’t biodegradable, so when they’re buried in a landfill, they remain in the same form forever. Not only do tires not disintegrate over time, but they also can't be compacted like other types of solid waste. However, the components of tires can be recycled into reusable products, which is something many states are extremely interested in pursuing. Some of the potential uses include playground surfaces, mulch, and asphalt.

Many states have used the funds collected from tire disposal fees to find new uses for materials from recycled tires. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Florida, California, Arizona, Alaska, and New Jersey have used rubber from tires in asphalt rubber for highway pavement. Iowa and South Dakota have been able to use recycled tire materials for civil engineering purposes, as well as tire-derived fuel. Drain fields for septic systems made from tire shreds have been created in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Oklahoma and Vermont have used scrap tires to stabilize riverbanks and slopes.2 As state research continues, funded by tire disposal fees, the potential new uses for recycled tires keep on growing.

Your tire installer may also charge a tire disposal fee, for disposing of your old tires after installing a new set. This fee covers the installer's cost for the private service that picks up old tires and properly disposes of them.