New grant will support scrap tire cleanup in Michigan

Tires and other debris dumped in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit in June 2022. A new grant program by the state of Michigan is aimed at helping reduce the amount of scrap tires by paying for their removal.
Tires and other debris dumped in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit in June 2022. A new grant program by the state of Michigan is aimed at helping reduce the amount of scrap tires by paying for their removal.

Communities across Michigan are struggling with tire dumping. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (ELGE) is working to fix that problem.

A new state of Michigan program will award grants for cleanup and seed money for entrepreneurs looking to expand ways to reuse old tires.

It's a huge problem, particularly in Detroit — a haven for dumpers who not only unload old tires but things like yard waste, construction debris, household appliances, and even old boats. While municipal law prohibits the practice and storage of bulk items without a permit, the issue persists.

Illegal dumping creates more than just an eyesore — it also poses health and safety hazards.

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Back in July, a Free Press investigation conducted in partnership with Outlier Media about illegal dumping in Detroit examined why it's a problem, how it's happening, and ways that it can be prevented. The investigation found that In Detroit's Department of Public Works (DPW) collects almost 700 tons of illegally dumped materials each week. That's about the same weight as 20 humpback whales.

Since 2015, Detroit's DPW has collected almost 1,000 tires per week from properties and vacant lots.

Old tires also serve as breeding grounds for mosquitos and pose fire hazards.

Potential offenders face fees ranging from $200 for less than 5 yards to $1,000 if waste exceeds 10 yards. The amount of dumping and the number of offenses affects the amount.

Solutions to fighting illegal dumping

State regulators believe that through grants, scrap tires can be collected, processed, and used in paving products for roads, manufactured products, and energy production.

The new Scrap Tire Cleanup Grant is for property owners to clean up old or abandoned scrap tire piles. Priority is given to collection sites where tires were accumulated prior to Jan. 1, 1991, plus sites that pose an imminent threat to public health, welfare, safety, or the environment.

EGLE plans to reimburse actual costs incurred at a rate of $1,500 per dropped trailer for the first 500 tires, up to a maximum of $3,000 per trailer.

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Nonprofits and local units of government are also eligible for funding for cleanup days and roadside cleanup.

The second grant being offered is the Scrap Tire Market Development Grant, which will reimburse up to 50% of the cost to purchase scrap tires to support the development of increased markets for them. Proposals are prioritized based on the amount of scrap tire materials used in developing the project or product, demonstration of a new use of the scrap tire material, and demonstration of a viable market for a proposed product.

Applications for the grant are available on the Scrap Tire website through the "grant information" tab. For further information, you can contact EGLE at EGLE-ScrapTire@Michigan.gov.

The deadline for the application is 11:59 p.m. Oct. 28.

Detroit also offers the Improve App, which allows residents to report blight, illegal dumping, and other issues in the city of Detroit to get them solved.

Contact Chandra Fleming: cafleming@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan grant program to pay for scrap tire removal, cleanup