Waste tires present environmental, health, and safety hazards. Rainwater accumulates in tire piles creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes, which are known to transmit West Nile Virus. A massive tire fire under a major highway in Philadelphia cost millions of dollars in damage and affected commuters and businesses in the region over several months. Large tire piles can burn for weeks causing the rubber to decompose into oil, which can pollute ground and surface water.
- Waste Tire Recycling Act, Act 190 of 1996 (includes Amendments)
- Standards for Storage of Residual Waste, 25 Pa. Code § 299.155-163
County Recycling Programs and Recycling Coordinators
Search for Drop-Off Locations:
This table contains a list of ongoing waste tire collection programs sponsored by counties, municipalities or county/municipal authorities.
| Locality / Sponsor | Collection Days | Location | Contact / Details |
| Allegheny County City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works DPW, Environmental Services, Recycling 412-255-2631 | Monday-Friday 8AM-2PM Some Saturdays (call) | East End Drop-Off Center 6814 Hamilton Ave Pittsburgh, PA 15208 | 412-665-3609 |
| Hazelwood Drop-Off Center 40 Melanchton St Pittsburgh, PA 15207 | 412-422-6545 | ||
| West End Drop-Off Center 1330 Hassler St Pittsburgh, PA 15220 | 412-937-3054 | ||
| Limited to Pittsburgh residents, two tires per day | |||
| Berks County Solid Waste Authority Recycling Office | Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday 8AM-12PM | Berks County Recycling Center 1316 Hill Top Road Leesport, PA 19533 | Berks County Recycling Center 610-478-6362 swa@countyofberks.com |
| Center County Recycling & Refuse Authority | Contact Organizer for Days and Times | Contact Program for Details | 814-238-7005 - Residents Only |
| Elk County | Monday-Friday 6AM-4PM Saturday 9AM-12PM | Advanced Disposal Greentree Landfill 635 Toby Rd. Kersey, PA 15846 | Elk County Tire Recycling 814-776-5373 elkrecycling@countyofelkpa.com Contact Elk Co. SWA for manifest prior to drop-off |
| Mercer County City of Hermitage | Friday 7AM-12PM | Hermitage City Garage 5250 Virginia Rd Hermitage, PA 16148 | Hermitage Recycling / Solid Waste 724-981-0800 Please call ahead Residents only |
| Monroe County Municipal Waste Management Authority | Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4PM | 183 Commercial Blvd Blakeslee, PA 18610 | TheWasteAuthority.com 570-643-6100 support@thewasteauthority.com Residents only |
| Philadelphia County City of Philadelphia Streets Department | From October 1 to March 31: Monday – Saturday 8AM-6PM From April 1 to September 30: Monday – Saturday 6AM-8PM | Sanitation Convenience Centers Multiple locations, see link | Philadelphia Streets Sanitation 215-686-5560 csstreets@phila.gov Residents only |
This table contains a list of one-time waste tire collection events sponsored by counties, municipalities or county/municipal authorities.
| County / Operator | Date(s) | Location | Contact |
| Berks County Berks County | Ongoing program, contact organizer for days and times. | Contact program for details | Jane Meeks 610-478-6362 Residents Only |
| Centre County Centre Co. Recycling & Refuse Authority | Ongoing program, contact organizer for days and times. | Contact program for details | 814-238-7005 Residents Only |
| Erie County Girard Township | 9/21/24 | 10411 Route 98 Edinboro, PA 16412 | |
| Fulton County Fulton County | 8/23/24, 8/24/24 | 610 E. North Street McConnellsburg, PA 17233 | |
| Venango County Venango County | 5/4/24, 10/26/24 | 134 Hangar Drive Franklin, PA 16323 | 814-432-9689 |
Recycling Markets Search - Locate outlets for various recyclable materials. Under material type, select "Rubber (Tires)", then click on search.
Waste tire recycling report from the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Joint State Government Commission: Waste Tire Recycling and Reuse in Pennsylvania: An Analysis of the Industry, Markets and State Use, Including Rubber Modified Asphalt (PDF, 2007)
- Waste Tire Hauler Authorization Fact Sheet 2540-FS-DEP2891 (PDF)
- Waste Tire Transporter Permit Application and Instructions 2540-PM-BWM0252
- Waste Tire Transporter Annual Report Form and Instructions 2500-FM-BWM0252
- Authorized Waste Tire Transporters (Interactive Report)
- Notice by Waste Tire Storage Site Operators 2500-FM-BWM0431
- General Permit for Processing and Beneficial Use of Waste Tires WMGR038 (PDF)
- Waste Tire Processing Facility Annual Operation Report 2500-FM-BWM0411
- Info on the use of tire chip aggregate for use in alternate onlot sewage treatment systems, see DEP classification of alternate aggregates: Alternate technology (A2014-0017-0002)
- Inspection Form Waste Tire Storage Facility 2540-FM-BWM0441
- List of Pennsylvania's Priority Waste Tire Piles
- Completed Waste Tire Pile Cleanup (PDF)
- 2014 Annual Report: Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for the Remediation of Used Tire Piles (PDF)
- 2013 Annual Report: Used Tire Pile Remediation Restricted Account for the Remediation of Used Tire Piles (PDF)
Note - No grants are available at this time.
- PennDOT Pollution Prevention Program
- PennDOT Recycling Fact Sheet: Scrap Tire and Tire-Rubber (PDF)
- EPA Scrap Tires: Handbook on Recycling Applications and Management for the U.S. and Mexico
- Rubber Manufacturers Association
For additional information on waste tires, contact DEP at 717-787-7381 or EP, Waste.