Waste Tire End User Reimbursement Program

Program Component # 2

Since 1994, DEQ has worked to strengthen the markets for Virginia-derived waste tire material with its End User Reimbursement Program, providing a financial rebate to those who use Virginia tire material in their products or processes. Over the years, this Program has provided sufficient incentives to waste tire generators, haulers, processors and end users to capture, process and beneficially use almost 100% of the waste tires generated in Virginia.

The End User Reimbursement Program makes direct payments to beneficial end users of Virginia-generated waste tire material. The program was authorized by the Virginia General Assembly in 1994 and regulations were adopted by the Virginia Waste Management Board which established the eligible uses and reimbursement rates, currently at $22.50 per ton of tire material (equivalent to 22.5 cent per tire) or $100 per ton ($1.00 per tire) if from a certified tire pile.  Only seven states have used the EUR system to support markets (most provide selective grants or loans) and Virginia is the only state to offer the tire pile cleanup payment differential.

The Virginia Waste Management Board adopted the Waste Tire End User Reimbursement Regulations (9 VAC 20 Chapter 150), effective on December 20, 1994 and modified them on January 4, 1996, November 18, 1997 and August 11, 2003. These regulations specify the operating provisions of the program.

Program Provisions

Eligible end uses include:(Paragraph 9 VAC 20-150-40 of Regulation)

A. Civil engineering applications which utilize waste tire material as a substitute for soil, sand, or aggregate in construction projects such as road bases and embankments, septic system drainage media, fill material and daily cover at a permitted (Subtitle D) solid waste facility if the facility's permit is so modified.

B. Burning of waste tire materials for energy recovery.

C. Pyrolysis of waste tires.

D. Products made from waste tire materials such as rubberized asphalt, mats, recreational surfaces, drainage systems, building materials and recycled products.

The waste tires must be shown to have been generated in Virginia through documentation such as a Waste Tire Certification. Waste tires are considered Virginia-generated if they meet one of these criteria (Paragraph 9 VAC 20-150-100 of the Regulation):

A. Discarded as the result of a sale, trade, or exchange in Virginia; or

B. from a Virginia tire pile that existed prior to the effective date of the Regulation (December 20, 1994); or

C. from a Virginia tire pile that was created without the property owner's knowledge or permission.

Waste Tire End Uses

Since 1994, there has been considerable change in the categories of end user of Virginia waste tire material, as markets develop and mature, or decline.

Data from Calendar Year 2006 (most recent available) gives more details about these uses and the breakout within the categories: 

Waste Tire End Users

Since 1994, there has been considerable change in the actual end user of Virginia tire materials. Many 1990s end users are no longer in business, so processors had to find new outlets. The prospect of support from DEQ made this process easier, so full utilization of Virginia material has been assured throughouts this program’s history and no doubt will be of use in the future as markets will continue to change.

A sample of end users over the last 2 years indicates the diversity of type and location for Virginia tire materials:

Tire-derived Fuel (TDF)

           Primary Energy- Roxboro, NC

           Primary Energy- Southport, NC

           Bowater Paper- Catawba, SC

           Tire Energy Corp- Martinsville (now closed)

           St. Lawrence Cement- Hagerstown, MD

Civil Engineering (CE)

      Landfill Daily Cover

           Bristol City landfill

           Charles City County (Waste Management) landfill

           Wise County landfill

           Prince William County landfill

           New River Resource Authority landfill- Pulaski County

           Frederick County landfill

           Gloucester (Waste Management) landfill

Landfill Drainage Medium

           Atlantic Waste landfill- Sussex County

           West Virginia Tire Disposal- Summersville, WV

           SPSA landfill- Suffolk

Septic Drainfields

           Barnhill Septic- Mullins, SC

           Dyson Landscaping- Manning, SC

           Gillispie Septic- Liberty, SC

Products (Recycling)

      Mulch

           Enviva Materials- Youngstown, Ohio

           Emanuel Tire- Baltimore, MD

           Maryland Environmental Service- Baltimore, MD (now closed)

Waste Tire Piles Cleaned Up

Since 1994, Virginia has used this unique reimbursement differential for tire pile cleanups (initially $50 per ton, then $75 per ton, and now $100 per ton). This system eliminates the need for competitive bidding and allows any processor/end user "team" to "go to the field" and compete for cleanup work for piles ranging from 100 tires to 4,641,400 tires.  The totals are:

187 - tire dumps cleaned up

13,453,870  - tires removed and beneficially used

$ 9,128,433 - paid in reimbursements to end users

Though the $100 per ton incentive is still available, it is now rarely utilized, due to the complexities and variability of the remaining tire piles in the Commonwealth.  Accordingly, DEQ has shifted cleanup focus to contracted cleanups.  See Program Component # 3.