Most Oakland businesses save time, money, and hassle by complying with regulations. If you have questions about the regulations that affect your business, please contact us at (510) 637-0251 or wastetires@oaklandnet.com.

With funding from the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), the City of Oakland's Waste Tire Enforcement Program (WTEP) informs Oakland businesses about laws that affect them--including Oakland's Blight Ordinance--and helps monitor and ensure compliance with State waste tire regulations. By working with businesses, property owners and other agencies, the City hopes to reduce illegal dumping of waste tires, and improve the quality of life in Oakland.

History

To respond to the fire, health, and environmental risks posed by the growing number of tire piles in California, the State Legislature enacted comprehensive requirements for the storage, transport, and disposal of waste tires. As a result of these statutes, the CIWMB adopted regulations for waste tire facilities and haulers. The CIWMB is working with cities statewide--in part by awarding enforcement grants--to make sure that all waste tire businesses know about and are complying with the regulations.

Overview of Regulations

California's laws governing waste tires are in the Public Resources Code (Division 30, Part 3, Chapters 16 and 19) and in the California Code of Regulations (Title 14, Division 7, Chapter 3). The City of Oakland's Blight Ordinance, Fire Code, and other regulations also describe how waste tires must be managed.

How does this affect your business?

Tire-generating businesses will be inspected

Inspectors will visit every tire-generating business in Oakland periodically to:

• review waste tire disposal manifests and, where required, permits; and
• look for compliance with waste tire regulations, the Blight Ordinance, and Oakland Fire Code.

The inspector will also ask questions about the number of tires generated, how they are stored, and may photograph blighted conditions. If violations are noted, the inspector will mail a notice describing the problem and how it must be corrected.

Violations will be reported

Violations of waste tire regulations--from not keeping waste tire disposal manifests onsite, to maintaining hazardous conditions--will be reported to the State. Violations of the Blight Ordinance will be reported to the City's Code Enforcement unit. If other violations are suspected, such as mismanaged hazardous materials or illegal stormwater discharges, they will be reported to the appropriate agency for follow-up.

Enforcement action will be taken

Failure to abate violations can subject businesses to fees and penalties. Hauling ten or more tires without a permit can cost up to $25,000 per violation. Operating a major waste tire facility without a permit is punishable by $10,000 a day plus jail time. Fees for unabated blight offenses begin at over $800. Piling tires in public view that are not neatly stacked, or in a way that may attract rats, mosquitoes, or other vermin, are blight infractions.

For more information, email or call the City's Waste Tire Enforcement Program at (510) 637-0251.