California generates approximately 33 million waste and used tires every year, roughly equal to the combined total generated in Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Missouri.

The Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA) has embarked on a successful program to regulate the roughly two million waste tires generated each year in the City. For the past few years, the LEA has been awarded a Waste Tire Enforcement Grant from the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) for the purpose of implementing an educational and enforcement program to increase proper management of waste tires and to minimize the illegal dumping of waste tires.

The program is targeted at educating waste tire generators, waste tire haulers and waste tire storage/collection facilities regarding state waste tire regulations. The LEA conducts annual inspections of these businesses and works with the CIWMB to gain compliance. The Waste Tire Program has been successful in decreasing the incidence of illegal dumping in the City.

Waste tires and trash are also washed into the City of San Diego from Mexico via the Tijuana River. The LEA has obtained grants from the CIWMB to facilitate clean-up of waste tires in the Tijuana River Valley. Approximately 5,700 waste tires were removed using CIWMB grant funds in the last complete grant cycle.