Tire Amnesty Day in limbo

Whitman County is looking at ways to continue its Tire Amnesty Day in the face of dwindling funds to pay for the yearly tire recycling event.

The county’s tire recycling program is funded by a community protection grant through the state Department of Ecology. The grant also funds other waste disposal projects like the county’s household hazardous waste disposal program.

The continuing grant was awarded to the county four years ago. Since then, the cost of recycling tires has increased while the grant money has stayed constant, said Mark Storey, county public works director.

“We’re just not covering the costs anymore,” said Storey.

He said the solid waste committee is looking at the possibility of filling in holes in state funding with county funds or using state funds from other programs like hazardous waste.

They also may consider putting a nominal fee on Tire Amnesty Day to cover the increased costs. Storey added future tire days may be every other year to lessen annual costs.

Complicating the matter is the fact that costs to land fill tires are cheaper than recycling costs. Whitman County charges $1.50 per tire to put them in the landfill. Cost to recycle tires is $2.50 each, said Storey.

Storey said some tire stores now dispose of old tires in the landfill because of the lower rate.

Commissioner Pat O’Neill suggested raising the costs of accepting tires at the landfill to encourage recycling. Storey said that might backfire and take tires out of the waste disposal stream.

“If it weren’t for the 2,000 miles of county road ditches out there that some people think is fair game, that might work,” said Storey.

Tire Amnesty Day is usually in the middle of July. Storey said that will likely be the case again this year.