§ 44-96-170 — Waste tires.

South Carolina § 44-96-170

• Jurisdiction: South Carolina
• Title 44: HEALTH
• Ch. 96: SOUTH CAROLINA SOLID WASTE POLICY AND MANAGEMENT ACT

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(A) Not later than ninety days after this chapter is effective, the owner or operator of a waste tire site shall notify the department of the site's location and size and the approximate number of waste tires that are accumulated at the site. However, this section does not apply to a manufacturer who disposes only of tires generated in the course of its scientific research and development activities, so long as the waste tires are buried on the facility's own land or that of its affiliates or subsidiaries and the disposal facility is in compliance with all applicable regulations. (B) Not later than six months after this chapter is effective, the department shall submit to the Governor and to the General Assembly a report on waste tire management and disposal in this State. The report shall, at a minimum, include the following: (1) the number of waste tires generated in this State and the geographical distribution of the waste tires; (2) the number and location of existing waste tire sites; (3) the location of existing waste tire collection sites; (4) the necessary financial responsibility requirements for sites, haulers, processors, collectors, and disposers of waste tires; (5) alternative methods of collecting waste tires; (6) current and future options for waste tire recycling; (7) methods to establish reliable sources of waste tires for waste tire users; and (8) types and location of facilities in this State that can utilize waste tires as a fuel source. (C) State and county solid waste management plans shall include a section on waste tires. The section on waste tires shall provide for public participation in its preparation and shall, as a minimum, include: (1) an estimate of the number of waste tires currently generated annually within that county or region and a projection of the number of waste tires to be generated during the twenty-year period following the date this chapter is effective; (2) an estimate of the current capacity in the county to manage waste tire disposal; (3) an estimate of the annual cost of implementing the approved waste tire disposal plan; (4) an estimate of the cost of siting, construction, and bringing into operation any new facilities needed to provide waste tire disposal; (5) the number of waste tires generated in each county and the geographical distribution of such waste tires; (6) the number and location of existing waste tire sites; (7) the location of existing waste tire collection sites; (8) alternative methods of collecting waste tires; (9) current and future options for waste tire recycling; (10) methods to establish reliable sources of waste tires for waste tire users; and (11) types and location of facilities in this county that can utilize waste tires as a fuel source. (D) Each county is required by the department to participate in ongoing waste tire clean-up enforcement efforts, and no later than twelve months after promulgation of regulations by the department, establish approved waste tire accumulation sites, designate waste tire processing, recycling, and disposal methods to be used, and begin disposal operations in compliance with the applicable regulations. Counties may contract with other counties and with private firms to implement the provisions of this chapter. The department shall administer waste tire management plans for those counties which do not submit proposals. (E) Counties are prohibited from imposing an additional fee on waste tires generated within the county. However, a county may impose an additional fee on waste tires, heavy equipment tires, and oversized tires that have a greater diameter than the largest tire with a Department of Transportation number. A fee may be charged on waste tires generated outside of South Carolina. Counties may require fleets to provide documentation for proof of purchase on in-state tires. For tires not included in documentation, an additional tipping fee may be charged. Counties may charge a tipping fee of up to four hundred dollars a ton for waste tires originating outside of the State, for non-USDOT tires, and for those tires submitted to the county for disposal for which no fee has been paid otherwise. (F) Counties may charge a tipping fee of up to four hundred dollars per ton for waste tires sold or used in the county when, by local ordinance, the county prohibits the acceptance of tires with documentation. When waste tires are accepted by a county, and proper documentation is provided, counties may charge a tipping fee of up to one hundred fifty dollars per ton for tires. (G) Not later than six months after the department promulgates regulations, a person, except as provided, shall not knowingly deposit whole waste tires in a landfill as a method of ultimate disposal. (H) Eighteen months after this chapter is effective, a person shall not: (1) maintain a waste tire collection site unless such site is an integral part of the person's permitted waste tire treatment facility or that person has entered into a contract with a permitted waste tire treatment facility for the disposal of waste tires; (2) knowingly dispose of waste tires in this State, unless the waste tires are disposed of at a permitted solid waste disposal facility; or (3) knowingly dispose of or discard waste tires on the property of another in a manner not prescribed by this chapter. For an interim period to be determined by the department, waste tires may be disposed of at a solid waste disposal facility, a waste tire recycling or processing facility, or a waste tire collection center seeking a permit from the department pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person violating this subsection shall be subject to a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars. This provision may be enforced by a state, county, or municipal law enforcement official, or by the department. Each tire improperly disposed of must constitute a separate violation. (I) It is the policy of this State to recommend that waste tires be managed at a: (a) waste tire collection site which is an integral part of a permitted waste tire recycling or processing facility; (b) permitted waste tire recycling or processing facility; or (c) permitted waste tire collection center. (J)(1) Not later than twelve months after this chapter is effective, the department shall promulgate regulations requiring all collectors, processors, recyclers, haulers, and disposers of waste tires to obtain a permit or registration issued by the department. (2) The regulations promulgated pursuant to this subsection must set forth the requirements for the issuance, denial, suspension, and revocation of such permits or registrations. (3) After the effective date of the regulations promulgated pursuant to this subsection, a person shall not collect, haul, recycle, or process waste tires unless that person has obtained a permit or registration from the department for that activity or, for an interim period to be determined by the department, is seeking a permit or registration from the department for that activity. (4) To carry out the purposes and provisions of this section, the department is authorized to: (a) promulgate such regulations, procedures, or standards as are necessary to protect human health and safety of the environment from the adverse effects of improper, inadequate, or unsound management of waste tires; (b) issue, deny, suspend, revoke, or modify permits, registrations, or orders under such conditions as the department may prescribe, pursuant to procedures consistent with the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act, for the management of waste tires; and (c) conduct inspections and investigations, obtain records of waste tire processing, storage, or hauling activities, obtain samples, and conduct research regarding the operation and maintenance of any waste tire management facility. (5)(a) The department shall suspend a waste tire processing facility from accepting waste tires when the department determines that the permitted capacity at the facility is exceeded, and after the facility has been provided an opportunity to return to compliance. (b) Once the department determines that the permitted capacity at the facility is exceeded, the department shall provide a written warning notice to the facility that the permitted capacity has been exceeded and provide seven calendar days to reduce the number of tires at the facility to the permitted limit. (c) If after seven calendar days the facility has not reduced the number of tires at the facility to the permitted limit, the department will provide written notice to the facility requiring it to cease accepting tires and to reduce the quantity of waste tires and processed tires on-site to no more than eighty percent of the permitted capacity within twenty-one calendar days of receipt of the notice. (d) If after the twenty-one-day period the facility fails to comply with the requirements of the written notice as verified by the department, the department shall suspend the facility's permit via written notice to the facility and shall remove the permitted facility from the Waste Tire Rebate Facility List pursuant to subsection (O). (e) The suspension shall remain in effect until the facility has reduced the quantity of waste tires and processed tires on-site to no more than eighty percent of its permitted capacity, as determined by the facility, and verified by the department. (f) The department shall lift the permit suspension and return the facility to the Waste Tire Rebate Facility List pursuant to the following: (i) upon verification by the department that the facility has reduced the total quantity of waste tires and processed tires on-site to no more than eighty percent of its permitted capacity; and (ii) if, upon referenced verification, the facility does not have any additional citations for material violations that remain unresolved. (g) The permitted facility shall not receive additional waste tires at the facility until the facility has received written notification from the department that the permit suspension has been lifted. However, during the permit suspension, the permitted facility may continue to process tires and sell product. (h) Each waste tire accepted by the facility during a suspension period shall be deemed a separate violation and may be deemed a wilful violation subject to the provisions of Section 44-96-100(B). (K) Subsection (J) does not apply to items (1) through (5) if these designated waste tire sites are maintained so as to prevent and control mosquitoes or other public health nuisances as determined by the department: (1) a tire retailing business where less than one thousand waste tires are kept on the business premises; (2) a tire retreading business where less than two thousand five hundred waste tires are kept on the business premises or a tire retreading facility that is owned or operated by a company that manufactures tires in this State or the tire manufacturer's parent company or its subsidiaries; (3) a business that, in the ordinary course of business, removes tires from motor vehicles if less than one thousand of these tires are kept on the business premises; (4) a permitted solid waste facility with less than two thousand five hundred waste tires temporarily stored on the business premises; or (5) a person using waste tires for agricultural purposes. (L) The department shall encourage the voluntary establishment of waste tire collection centers, waste tire treatment facilities, and solid waste disposal facilities to be open to the public for the deposit of waste tires. (M) The department is authorized to establish incentive programs to encourage individuals to return their used tires to waste tire recycling or processing facilities. (N)(1) There is imposed a fee of two dollars for each new and used tire sold with a Department of Transportation number to the ultimate consumer, whether or not the tire is mounted by the seller. This fee is applicable to all unmounted tire sales. The wholesaler or retailer receiving new tires from unlicensed wholesalers is responsible for paying the fee imposed by this subsection. This fee shall not be collected on farm or agricultural tires, including tires designed for use in the production of farm products as defined in Section 46-1-75(E)(1). (2) The Department of Revenue shall administer, collect, and enforce the tire recycling fee in the same manner that the sales and use taxes are collected pursuant to Chapter 36 of Title 12. The fee imposed by this subsection must be remitted on a monthly basis. (3) The department shall deposit all fees collected to the credit of the State Treasurer who shall establish a separate and distinct account from the state general fund. (4) The State Treasurer shall distribute one and one-half dollars for each tire sold, less applicable credit, refund, and discount, to each county based upon the population in each county according to the most recent United States Census. The county shall use these funds for collection, processing, or recycling of waste tires generated within the State. (5) The remaining portion of the tire recycling fee is to be credited to the Solid Waste Management Trust Fund by the State Treasurer for the Waste Tire Grant Trust Fund, established under the administration of the Department of Environmental Services. (6) The General Assembly shall review the waste tire disposal recycling fee every five years. (7) For purposes of this subsection, "tire wholesaler" means any person who sells or offers to sell new or used tires or tubes to tire retailers or other volume buyers for passenger and commercial vehicles to retailers. A tire wholesaler shall not engage in retail sales. (O)(1) The department shall maintain the list of facilities known as the Waste Tire Facility List. (2) The Waste Tire Facility List shall include department-permitted waste tire processing facilities that fulfill the requirements of a waste tire recycling facility, as defined in Section 44-96-40(68)(d), and facilities located outside of South Carolina that are permitted or approved by the host state and that also fulfill the requirements of a waste tire recycling facility, as defined in Section 44-96-40(68)(d). (3) The department shall remove from the Waste Tire Facility List any facility whose permit has been revoked or suspended, until the permit has been reinstated by the department or host state. Retailers may contract with a waste tire hauler to collect, transport, and deliver waste tires to a department-permitted waste tire facility in accordance with the manifest requirements as provided in Article 3, Chapter 75 of Title 39. (P)(1) The Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling of the Department of Environmental Services may provide grants from the Waste Tire Trust Fund to counties which have exhausted all funds remitted to counties under Section 44-96-170(N), to regions applying on behalf of those counties and to local governments within those counties to assist in: (a) constructing, operating, or contracting with waste tire processing or recycling facilities; (b) removing or contracting for the removal of waste tires for processing or recycling; (c) performing or contracting for the performance of research designed to facilitate waste tire recycling; (d) the purchase or use of recycled products or materials made from waste tires generated in this State; or (e) recruiting industries that utilize waste tires for alternative productive uses including, but not limited to, rubber modified asphalt to keep waste tires out of the solid waste stream. (2) Grants from the Waste Tire Trust Fund may also be awarded to businesses or manufacturers that generate or process waste tires to develop, create, or otherwise utilize waste tires for alternative productive uses or tire-derived products including, but not limited to, rubber modified asphalt. (3) Any business or manufacturer awarded a grant from the Waste Tire Fund must also satisfy relevant job creation requirements included in Section 12-6-3360. (Q)(1) Waste tire grants must be awarded on the basis of written grant request proposals submitted to and approved, not less than annually, by the committee consisting of ten members appointed by the director of the department representing: (a) the South Carolina Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association; (b) the South Carolina Association of Counties; (c) the South Carolina Association of Regional Councils; (d) the Department of Environmental Services; (e) the South Carolina Tire Manufacturers Council; (f) the South Carolina Department of Commerce; (g) a public interest environmental organization; (h) the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; (i) the Office of the Governor; and (j) the South Carolina Municipal Association. (2) Members of the committee shall serve for terms of three years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. (3) Vacancies must be filled in the manner of original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term. The representative of the department shall serve as chairman. The committee shall review grant requests and proposals and make recommendations on grant awards to the State Solid Waste Advisory Council. Grants must be awarded by the State Solid Waste Advisory Council. (R)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (N), the department may use funds from the Waste Tire Trust Fund to fund activities of the department to implement provisions of this section to promote the recycling of waste tires and to develop a sustainable statewide market infrastructure for tire-derived products as provided in item (2). (2) The department shall collaborate with the South Carolina Department of Commerce to identify, pursue, and develop a statewide market infrastructure for tire-derived products. The departments shall: (a) develop a state plan for the efficient and effective management of waste tires with priority focus on market development; (b) develop a comprehensive and diversified approach to market development for targeting higher end uses for waste tires and a circular tire economy in consultation with representatives from: (i) the South Carolina Department of Transportation; (ii) the state's asphalt paving industry; (iii) the Recycling Market Development Advisory Council pursuant to Section 13-1-380; (iv) county governments; (v) state public colleges and universities; (vi) waste tire recyclers; (vii) new tire retailers and processors; (viii) South Carolina's tire manufacturers; (ix) United States' tire manufacturers; and (x) other appropriate stakeholders as determined by the department. (c) promote the economic and environmental benefits of waste tire recycling; and (d) establish specific goals and objectives for the State to achieve to align with national percentages in reuse markets. (3) The use of these funds must be reviewed annually by the Waste Tire Committee and the Solid Waste Advisory Council. The Recycling Market Development Advisory Council and the Solid Waste Advisory Council also may make recommendations to the department for use of these funds. (S) The department shall establish by regulation recordkeeping and reporting requirements for waste tire haulers, as provided in Sections 39-75-110 and 39-75-140, and collection, processing, recycling, and disposal facilities. (T) A county failing to comply with the requirements of this section and regulations promulgated under it is not eligible for monies from the Waste Tire Trust Fund.

Legislative History

HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 63, SECTION 1; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1155; 1993 Act No. 181, SECTION 1156; 1998 Act No. 432, SECTION 17; 2000 Act No. 405, SECTION 14; 2021 Act No. 67 (H.3222), SECTION 2, eff May 17, 2021; 2025 Act No. 33 (S.171), SECTIONS 2, 3, eff May 12, 2025. Effect of Amendment 2021 Act No. 67, SECTION 2, rewrote (J) and (O). 2025 Act No. 33, SECTIONS 2, 3, in the last sentence of (E), substituted "four hundred dollars a ton for waste tires originating outside of the State, for non-USDOT tires, and for those tires submitted to the county for disposal" for "one dollar and fifty cents for each tire or up to one hundred fifty dollars a ton for waste tires generated in this State"; rewrote (F), (N), (O), (P), (Q), and (R); and in (S), inserted "as provided in Sections 39-75-110 and 39-75-140,".