NEW MEXICO SCRAP TIRE BRIEFING SHEET

STATE REGULATIONS
In 1994 the Tire Recycling Act was passed. The law establishes a tire disposal fee on vehicle and motorcycles registration. Revenues generated from the fee are to be directed to a Rubberized Asphalt Fund and a Tire Recycling Fund. The regulations for scrap tire management are currently being developed.

In 2003, the legislature passed HB25, which increases the annual tire recycling fee imposed in conjunction with motor vehicle registrations by $0.50 per year. For buses the fee is increased by $0.25 per wheel. The revenue attributable to the increase in the tire recycling fee is directed to the Tire Recycling Fund.
HB25 is estimated to generate between $750,000 and $850,000 revenues annually. The Tire Recycling Fund has had no source of revenue since the tire recycling fee was redirected to the Highway Infrastructure Fund in 1999.
The funds would be used for personnel and activities associated with implementation of the Tire Recycling Act and would be granted to local governments for handling scrap tires and tire dump sites.

Establishes a civil penalty of up to $500 per waste tire for improper disposal.

HB25 (2003) increases the annual tire recycling fee imposed in conjunction with motor vehicle registrations by $0.50 per year. For buses the fee is increased by $0.25 per wheel. The revenue attributable to the increase in the tire recycling fee is directed to the Tire Recycling Fund.
HB25 is estimated to generate between $750,000 and $850,000 revenues annually. The Tire Recycling Fund has had no source of revenue since the tire recycling fee was redirected to the Highway Infrastructure Fund in 1999.
The funds would be used for personnel and activities associated with implementation of the Tire Recycling Act and would be granted to local governments for handling scrap tires and tire dump sites.

HB 25 increases the annual tire recycling fee imposed in conjunction with motor vehicle registrations by $0.50 per year. For buses the fee is increased by $0.25 per wheel. The revenue attributable to the increase in the tire recycling fee is directed to the Tire Recycling Fund and the existing fee amount would continue to go the Highway Infrastructure fund. The fees would be increased as follows:

Type of Vehicle
Current Tire Recycling Fee
Proposed Tire Recycling Fee

Motorcycles
$0.50
$1.00

Passenger Vehicles
$1.00
$1.50

Trucks, Truck, Tractors
$1.00
$1.50

Buses
$0.25
$0.50

MAJOR MARKETS
The State Department of Transportation is considering the use of rubber modified asphalt. Most scrap tires are still taken to landfills. One scrap tire processor is operating with grants from the Tire Recycling Fund Eleven regional tire recycling centers have been established in the state. Each center will collect and bale the scrap tires within their area of responsibility. The one ton bales are being used in fencing, barrier walls, building foundations, flow control, erosion control, dams, ramps foundations, landscaping and underpinning for golf courses.

Southwest Tire Processors is the only commercial tire processor, producing shredded chips and crumb rubber from 3/8 size through 100 mesh.

There is a single modified asphalt project; otherwise, most tires are being baled.

2008 New Mexico Solid Waste Annual Report

STATE CONTACT
Toni Duggan
New Mexico Environment Department
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-0110
Phone: (505) 827-0559
E-mail: toni_duggan@nmenv.state.nm.us
NM General Info