On November 11, 2018, Philadelphia City Council passed Bill No. 180648 to prevent and address the quality of life issues related to short dumping of tires throughout Philadelphia. This legislation requires tire dealers to certify proper waste disposal practices in order to get their license to operate. This license is part of the City’s Zero Waste strategy for a cleaner Philadelphia and focuses on tires, which are so often “short dumped.”

What Does the License Do?

Effective in fall 2020, for the first time, tire dealers in Philadelphia will be required to obtain a license from the City. The license costs $300 and must be renewed annually. License-holders must keep a “manifest” (detailed record) and all documentation showing where every tire came from and where every tire went. L&I will begin issuing the tire dealer license in the fall of 2020. All tire dealers must be licensed by December 31, 2020. The City will reach out to businesses to notify them about the tire dealer license requirements and how to comply with the license law.

To get the license, owners must:

Requirements include:

How Will the License Make a Difference?

• Proper tire disposal is prioritized. By requiring tire dealers to certify proper waste disposal practices in order to get the license they need to operate, and requiring that they contract with a registered waste hauler before they even apply, we are building in right up front that properly disposing of tires is an integral part of being a tire dealer, not an afterthought.
• Supporting illegal dumping enforcement efforts. Enforcement agencies will be able to access tire dealer licenses and manifests in the course of inspections and investigations. This includes illegal dumping investigations by the Philadelphia Police Department and other law enforcement agencies, as well as L&I inspections conducted annually and in response to 311 complaints. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is expected to inspect tire dealerships chosen at random to make sure that manifests for tire recycling facilities match up with the manifests required by the ordinance. In addition to criminal penalties, tire dealers
  found to be dumping will face fines, and license suspension or revocation may be imposed upon non-compliant tire dealers.
• Improving safety and quality of life. The ordinance will protect public health and quality of life, because tire dealers cannot get a license unless and until they demonstrate to L&I that they have fire safety and appropriate storage measures
  in place.

How Can I Become Authorized with the State as a Waste Tire Transporter?

The State of Pennsylvania’s Waste Tire Recycling Act requires owners of waste transportation vehicles that transport tires to a processing or disposal facility in the commonwealth to obtain written authorization from the Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). Click here to complete the State Waste Hauler Transporter Authorization Application.

List of Local Tire Processors

The companies listed below process waste tires in the Philadelphia region. Please email cleanphl@phila.gov to request to be added to this list.