The Catalyst: Tire Environmental Act Program Announces New Projects

By: Chris Pianta

Scrap tires have long been a problem in Tennessee. The state generates roughly six million scrap tires a year, creating a large volume of waste that can result in both environmental and human health issues if not properly managed.

In 2015, in an effort to address this problem, Tennessee established the Tire Environmental Fund. Upon the retail sale of a new motor vehicle to be titled and registered in Tennessee, a flat fee based on the number of a vehicle’s wheels is assessed. The fee goes into the fund, which is used for projects creating or supporting beneficial end uses for waste tires. Projects must qualify for one of three categories: tire processing/recycling, tire-derived material use, or research and development. The program provides grant funding to eligible entities, including local governments, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, and for-profit businesses.

The Tire Environmental Act Program (TEAP) was formed to manage these funds through an annual granting program. TEAP recently announced its awardees from its latest round of grants. A total of nine projects will receive funding that will help to divert Tennessee scrap tires from landfills and instead create beneficial reuses for the rubber. These projects will include installing porous pavement hiking trails and playground surfaces, as well as innovative ideas such as using tires to create bike lane barriers. The funding will also be used to purchase equipment to assist with scrap tire collection and processing efforts within the state.

Since 2015, grantees have been awarded almost $10.8 million, and approximately 7.6 million tires or nearly 82,000 tons of scrap tires have been diverted from landfills. The next grant application period will run from mid-January through mid-April of 2025. Please visit the TEAP website to learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply for funding.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) welcomed Clayton Supply – Lux Doors of Morristown as the newest member of the Tennessee Green Star Partnership (TGSP) in July. TGSP is an environmental leadership program recognizing Tennessee manufacturers that practice exceptionally sustainable practices. TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said, “We are excited to recognize Clayton Supply – Lux Doors with this honor, the Tennessee Green Star Partnership has high standards for membership and this manufacturer has shown it belongs in that group.”

The Morristown facility has reduced waste generation by 30 percent; reduced water consumption by 20 percent; and diverted 82 percent of waste from the landfill, including sending all of the facility’s sawdust for reuse in kitty litter and spill kits (roughly 100 tons per month).

For more information about TDEC’s Green Star Partnership program visit this link.

T.O Fuller State Park participates in the TSP Honey Project - a program that works to promote pollinator and environmental health in our parks and provide an experiential learning opportunity for visitors. Since its establishment, the Honey Project has installed hives at 39 parks across the state. Parks bottle and sell the honey in their gift shops based on their hive's production. T.O. Fuller State Park has implemented a creative solution to maintain the area around their bee hives and ensure park staff safety. With the services of Queen D’s Farm and Bees, 14 goats were brought to the park in July of 2024 to graze and maintain the area without disrupting the bees.

National Honey Bee Day, celebrated every third Saturday in August, is an awareness day when beekeepers, beekeeping associations, and honey bee enthusiasts celebrate honey bees and their contribution to our lives. You can celebrate National Honey Bee day by visiting one of our Tennessee State Parks participating in the TSP Honey Project and maybe even purchasing some local honey!

Most Tennesseans don’t need a government agency to tell us that Tennessee has seen varying intensities of drought this year; our lawns and garden communicate this clearly. According to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry, almost 70% of the state experienced some level of drought in July. Fortunately, heavy rain events in late July reduced statewide drought levels by one intensity level.

That being said, it is important to plan for and take steps to help protect ourselves and our environment from the negative effects of drought. Whether your household or business utilizes surface water or groundwater as a drinking water source, one of the easiest steps to combat drought is through water conservation. Turning off faucets and fixing leaking faucets can save valuable drinking water resources. This includes broken and/or misdirected lawn sprinkler heads. Hot tip: asphalt roads, concrete sideways, and brick buildings do not need to be watered.