NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 11, 2013) — The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has awarded 44 grants worth more than $3.6 million to fund tire recycling projects in Tennessee communities.
The grants are for fiscal years 2014-2015, the agency said in a July 8 press release.
Under the Tennessee Solid Waste Management Act of 1991, the state assists counties with the collection, processing and transportation of waste tires. The Department of Environment and Conservation reimburses counties $1 for every tire they collect; in return, counties must maintain at least one active collection site.
The agency pays for its waste tire grants through the state pre-disposal fee of $1.35 on each new tire sold in Tennessee. Of that fee, $1.25 goes to the counties, the agency said.
Tennessee generates about 5 million scrap tires every year, and recycles an estimated 55,000 tons of scrap tires, according to the agency website. Tire-derived fuel is the largest use for recycled tires in the state, it said.