Subject:
Solid Waste Tipping Fee waiver for Tire Amnesty Day.
Recommended Action:
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the tipping fee waiver for Tire Amnesty Day.
• Tire Amnesty Day provides residents with the opportunity to dispose of tires free of charge. The goal is to mitigate illegal dumping and to rid properties of tires that provide an opportunity for standing water and mosquito larvae.
• The County Administrator is granted delegated authority to waive solid waste tipping fees per Resolution 97-284.
• This fee waiver applies to a one-time disposal of tires collected and transported to the Solid Waste complex for disposal.
• Tire Amnesty Day is scheduled for April 18, 2026.
• A similar waiver request was approved in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2025.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will reimburse costs associated with transportation, equipment rental, and disposal costs not-to-exceed $25,000.00.
• The Solid Waste Department has calculated the foregone tipping fees to be less than $4,000.00.
Strategic Plan:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.4 Improve environmental quality.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
Summary:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is partnering with local governments to host free waste tire disposal days to reduce the spread of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses. In partnership with Public Works Mosquito Control & Vegetation Management, the Solid Waste department will host a Tire Amnesty Day for Pinellas County residents on April 18, 2026. Approval provides for a Solid Waste Tipping Fee Waiver for tires collected for disposal on Tire Amnesty Day.
Background/Explanation:
Under Rate Resolution 97-284 (attached), the County Administrator has the authority to waive tipping fees for Approved Special Events such as countywide beach cleanups, waste from oil spills and other events of countywide benefit. Tire collection events qualify under the stated criteria.
Four successful Tire Amnesty Day events were held in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2025, resulting in an average of 1,479 tires per event being removed from the environment.
Heat map data from the 2019 Tire Amnesty Day event was used to select the following locations for the 2025 collection event. This data will be used again for the 2026 collection event between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.
• HHW North, 29582 U.S. Highway 19 North, Clearwater
• Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th Street North, St. Petersburg
• Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Avenue North, Largo
The Tire Amnesty Day event will be limited to residential customers, and loads will be limited to 12 tires per resident. Only tires without rims and 36 inches or less in diameter will be accepted.
Pinellas County will:
• Provide collection locations, collection containers and staffing for the event.
• Treat the collected tires for mosquito larvae.
• Transport the tires from the collection locations to the Solid Waste Disposal Complex for disposal in the Waste-to-Energy facility.
• Promote the event.
FDEP will:
• Promote the event on their website through links to Pinellas County’s website.
• Reimburse the county for transportation, equipment rental, and disposal costs up to a combined total of $25,000.00 for tires collected.
Solid Waste will fund promotion costs and staffing costs for department employees. Public Works will fund the cost of treating the collected tires and staffing for department employees.
Fiscal Impact:
The current tipping fee is $58.86 per ton and applies to the disposal of 4 or fewer tires. Disposal of five or more tires is assessed at $180.00 per ton fee.
In 2025, approximately 1,450 tires or 20 tons of tires were collected.
The total tipping fee collection foregone does not equate to total revenue loss. This event is intended to incentivize disposal of tires that would not otherwise be disposed of at the Solid Waste Complex, from which revenue would not be collected. Additionally, revenue loss is offset by the production of energy at the Waste-to-Energy Facility.
Delegated Authority:
Rate Resolution Number 97-284 provides for waiver of tipping fees for Approved Special Events, such as countywide beach cleanups, waste from oil spills and other events of countywide benefit approved by the County Administrator.
Staff Member Responsible:
Paul Sacco, Director, Solid Waste
Partners:
Public Works
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Keep Pinellas Beautiful
Attachments:
Solid Waste Memo dated February 10, 2026
Resolution 97-284