With the waste tire fee set to increase from $1 to $5 per tire in January 2026, tire retailers across Washington are raising concerns about whether the state is dedicating sufficient funds to properly manage waste tires. Despite the fivefold fee increase, the Legislature is reducing the amount dedicated to waste tire management from $1 million to $600,000 per year.
The Waste Tire Account was established in 2005 as a temporary charge to fund the cleanup of illegal tire piles statewide. In 2009 the $1 fee was made permanent, but the Legislature began to divert any amount above the first $1 million per year to the Motor Vehicle Fund for road maintenance.
Ecology’s report shows that more than $2.6 million was spent on waste tire management in 2009, but spending fell drastically to roughly $762,000 in 2010. From 2011 to 2023, the average annual amount dedicated to the fee’s original purpose was approximately $414,116. The sharp decline since the Legislature’s $1 million annual cap in 2009 caused questions from tire retailers about whether the reduced spending signals successful cleanup or simply a funding limitation.
Tire retailers report they still see illegal tire piles in parts of the state and are concerned that the new $600,000 limit will further constrain Ecology’s ability to address waste tire issues.
WR plans to seek clarity from Ecology regarding funding adequacy for waste tire management. A short questionnaire will be shared with tire members to better understand their on-the-ground experiences of waste tire management.
