EGLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kirsten Clemens, Scrap Tire Program Coordinator, EGLE-ScrapTire@Michigan.gov, 517-614-7431 The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy today announced the funding of more than $4.7 million in grants to develop new uses for used vehicle tires. When illegal dumping in the environment occurs, scrap tires pose both a fire hazard and a human health risk as a mosquito breeding ground. These grants help reduce or eliminate instances of illegal dumping, support proper collection and handling, and begin to define scrap tires as a commodity, rather than a waste material. These scrap tire grants support building sustainable markets for recycled tire materials in Michigan. Grants have traditionally included support for essential equipment and materials that aid in the establishment of new markets, including various manufacturing processes, implementation and testing of paving materials, energy generation, and other innovative approaches.