On January 15th, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced the opening of the application process for grants under the Tire Environmental Act Program (TEAP). This initiative aims to fund projects that either create or enhance beneficial uses for used tires. Eligible projects encompass a variety of activities, including the recycling and processing of tires, the utilization of tire-derived materials such as aggregates, research and development in tire management, the use of tires as alternative fuels, and the promotion of innovative infrastructure solutions.
In Tennessee, approximately 6 million waste tires are generated each year. Since the inception of TEAP, the program has successfully facilitated the diversion of nearly 7.6 million tires from landfills. Established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 2015, the Tire Environmental Fund has allocated close to $10.8 million to various grantees to tackle the issue of waste tire disposal in the state.
Organizations interested in applying for these grants must submit their applications by April 15th. Importantly, there are no restrictions on the types of entities that can apply; the grant is open to all groups. For further details regarding the program and the grants management system, interested parties can visit the TEAP website, where comprehensive information is available.