Tires are a real problem when they’ve been abandoned along roadways, or even worse, when they’ve been dumped illegally. They are a type of litter frequently seen on Tennessee roadways and should be disposed of properly.

The Keep America Beautiful (KAB) 2020 National Litter Study identified that tires and tire treads are among the country’s top 20 most littered items. They estimate that 663 million tires were left along America’s roadways. In fact, they are the #13 most littered item in America. And, abandoned tires are found along roadways and along waterways throughout the country.

How to Dispose of Tires in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC) has detailed instructions about waste tires in our state. Each county must provide a collection site because whole tires cannot be discarded in landfills. Tires contain heavy metals and other materials that contaminate the environment as they break down, so they have to be treated differently.

If you need to dispose of tires, find a collection site near you at this link and discover more about how your county handles waste tires.

Report Illegal Dumping of Tires

We all benefit when we can remove illegal tire dumping in our state. TDEC has guidelines and rules for how they handle these sites, but anyone can report an illegal tire dump site. Illegal dump site reporting line: 1-888-891-8332.

What Else Can You Do?

Do you have an old tire laying around? Have you seen abandoned tires in your community? Here’s what you can do:

• Dispose of your tire properly at your county waste tire collection site
• Report any illegal tire dumps you see in your community
• Join the movement to end littering in Tennessee by volunteering for a cleanup in your area. We have a handy event calendar here.