EPA releases proposal to clean up millions of tires

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a proposal to help clean up millions of abandoned tires throughout the U.S., addressing health and safety concerns related to tire piles in American communities. In addition, the proposal would allow the use of abandoned scrap tires as fuel, clearing the path for faster cleanup of tire piles. Together, these changes will make communities safer and healthier by reducing risks from tire pile fires and the breeding grounds they become for disease-carrying animals.

“Abandoned tire piles across the U.S. pose a threat to the health and safety of Americans, but this waste stream can be and should be responsibly and carefully addressed to make America both healthy and energy dominant again. Our latest proposal provides a commonsense approach to better clean up scrap tires and realize their full potential as fuel,” said Thomas Croci, Office of Land and Emergency Management acting assistant administrator.

Approximately 48 million abandoned scrap tires remain in at least 23 states and tribal lands. The proposal would allow whole abandoned scrap tires to be used in cement kilns as non-waste fuel and allow established tire collection programs to manage all scrap tires used as fuel in the same way. These changes would help reduce risks from scrap tire piles and enhance the recovery of valuable energy resources.

Published June 2026