Tire Disposal in Wilmington DE: What DNREC Requires
Old tires are one of those things that pile up in Delaware garages, backyards, and fence lines because nobody knows what to do with them. You cannot put them in your regular trash. You cannot leave them on the curb in Wilmington. And if you dump them on vacant land near Brandywine Creek or behind a warehouse in Elsmere, you are looking at fines up to $25,000 and possible jail time. DNREC regulates scrap tire disposal across the state under 7 DE Admin Code 1301, Section 12, and the rules apply to homeowners, businesses, and farmers alike.
Why Delaware Regulates Tire Disposal So Strictly
Delaware produces over 750,000 scrap tires every year. Tires do not decompose in landfills. They trap water, which breeds mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Tire piles also catch fire easily, and once a tire fire starts, it burns for days or weeks, releasing toxic oil runoff into soil and groundwater.
DNREC estimates there are still two to three million scrap tires sitting in unmanaged piles across the state. That is why the agency created the Scrap Tire Management Fund and enforces strict rules on how tires get stored, transported, and disposed of in New Castle County and statewide.
What DNREC Actually Requires for Tire Disposal
The $2 Scrap Tire Fee
Every tire sold at retail in Delaware includes a $2 fee collected by the Delaware Division of Revenue. That money goes directly into the Scrap Tire Management Fund, which pays for pile cleanups and enforcement. When you buy new tires at a shop in Wilmington, the retailer is required to accept your old tires at no additional charge. That is the easiest disposal path for most homeowners.
Storage and Facility Rules
If you have more than 50 tires on your property, DNREC considers that a scrap tire facility. You need a permit, an operations manual, and mosquito control measures for any outdoor pile. Enclosed trailer storage requires a site identification number. These rules exist because a pile of 50 tires left in the sun near Pike Creek becomes a public health hazard within one mosquito season.
Watch: How scrap tires get recycled into new materialsWhat Wilmington Homeowners Cannot Do With Old Tires
You cannot place tires at the curb for regular trash pickup in Wilmington. The city's waste hauler will leave them. You cannot take them to Cherry Island Landfill without following specific intake procedures. You cannot burn them in your yard, which violates both DNREC air quality rules and New Castle County fire codes. And you absolutely cannot dump them on someone else's property or along roadways near Trolley Square, Forty Acres, or anywhere else in the city.
If you get caught illegally dumping tires, the penalties are serious. Delaware law allows fines up to $25,000 per violation plus up to six months in prison. In April 2026, a Wilmington resident was arrested for multiple incidents of illegal dumping of trash and construction materials, which included tires left on vacant lots.
Where Old Tires Actually Go After Removal
When Scrap Squad picks up tires from a property in Wilmington or anywhere in New Castle County, they go to licensed processing facilities. Scrap tires get shredded into tire-derived fuel for cement kilns, ground into crumb rubber for athletic fields and playground surfaces, or processed into rubberized asphalt for road paving. None of it goes into a hole in the ground.
This is similar to how the crew handles scrap metal recycling in Delaware. The goal is always to divert material from the landfill and send it somewhere it gets a second life. DNREC's Scrap Tire Management page tracks which facilities are licensed to accept and process tires in the state.
Options for Getting Rid of Tires in Delaware
Tire Retailers (Easiest for Small Quantities)
If you are buying new tires, the shop must accept your old ones. This is built into Delaware's tire fee system. Most tire shops in Wilmington, from chains on Kirkwood Highway to independent garages on Maryland Avenue, follow this rule. If a retailer refuses, you can report them to the Division of Revenue.
DNREC Drop-Off Events
DNREC periodically runs scrap tire collection events at DelDOT yards around the state. These are free for residential quantities and do not require an appointment. The agency announces them through their website and local media. Farmers with large accumulations from silage covers or feed bunks can also contact DNREC at (302) 739-9403 for assistance through the agricultural tire program.
Scrap Squad Pickup
For homeowners in Wilmington who have tires stacked in the garage, shed, or backyard and just want them gone, Scrap Squad picks them up along with whatever other junk needs to go. No minimum quantity, no appointment at a facility, no loading them into your car. The crew comes to your property, loads everything, and handles the disposal through licensed channels. It is the same process used for all junk after pickup in Delaware.
Reporting Illegal Tire Dumping in Delaware
If you see tires dumped along a road, in a vacant lot, or in a waterway near Brandywine Creek or Shellpot Creek, report it to DNREC's 24-hour environmental complaint hotline at 1-800-662-8802. New Castle County code enforcement can also be reached at (302) 395-5555. Illegal tire piles are a priority because of the mosquito and fire risks, and DNREC will investigate and pursue cleanup.
Need it gone? Call or text Scrap Squad at (302) 438-0211 for a free same-day estimate. Locally owned, fully insured, and serving Wilmington, New Castle County and all of northern Delaware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you throw old tires in the trash in Delaware?
No. Delaware prohibits tires in regular household trash. Curbside haulers in Wilmington and throughout New Castle County will not accept them. Tires must go through a licensed retailer, DNREC collection event, or a junk removal service like Scrap Squad that uses approved disposal channels.
How many tires can a homeowner have before DNREC gets involved?
DNREC considers any property with more than 50 tires a scrap tire facility subject to permitting and inspection. Even below that number, storing tires outdoors without mosquito control can trigger code enforcement action in Wilmington and New Castle County.
What does Scrap Squad charge for tire removal?
Pricing depends on the number of tires and whether they are part of a larger cleanout job. Scrap Squad provides free estimates over the phone or on-site. Call (302) 438-0211 for a quote, and the crew can usually pick up the same day.
Where do old tires go after Scrap Squad picks them up?
Old tires go to licensed processing facilities in the region. They get shredded into tire-derived fuel, ground into crumb rubber for playgrounds and athletic fields, or turned into rubberized asphalt for road projects. Nothing goes to a landfill.
