Yuma County adopts new waste-tire disposal fees, requires proof of residency

The Yuma County Board of Supervisors on May 5 approved Resolution 2025-12 to change local waste-tire disposal fees and operational standards, citing a recent Arizona Department of Environmental Quality rate change and rising local disposal costs.

County Public Works Director Kelly Fricki told the board that the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality raised the statewide tipping fee for waste tires to $4.66 per tire effective April 1 and that Yuma County’s fees had not been updated in more than two decades. "Updating our fees will enable us to continue providing efficient, sustainable waste management for our community," Fricki said.

The board amended the staff proposal during deliberations and approved an individual resident disposal fee of $5 per tire. The board also set higher per-tire rates for larger vehicles and nonresidents (discussed during the meeting as $6 for certain passenger cars/light trucks, $7 for larger trucks, and higher commercial rates), and approved the resolution as amended. Supervisors instructed staff to require proof of residency at county transfer sites (a state photo ID plus a utility bill) before charging or waiving fees.

Fricki described a growing backlog and recycling costs that the county must address: the department reported about 37,590 backlog tires in 2023–24, a prior-year backlog of roughly 206,129 tires, and more than 82,000 tires received so far in fiscal 2024–25 through April. She said the county pays the state recycler roughly $84.75 per ton and that 100 tires approximate a ton — a combination that makes disposal expensive for the county. Fricki also said residents will continue to be allowed to bring up to five tires free of charge at county sites, but that tires from unregistered vendors (used-tire vendors not remitting to the state's fund) are subject to local tipping fees.

Board members raised concerns that raising fees could drive illegal dumping and that the $4.66 state rate would not fully cover Yuma County’s costs. During discussion supervisors proposed flat local fees to simplify collection and to reduce administrative loss; the board’s final vote enacted the amended fee schedule and directed Public Works to implement proof-of-residency checks and to improve intake tracking at transfer sites.

Resolution 2025-12 was approved by motion; the board recorded the motion, a second and an affirmative vote. Staff said the county will implement the new fee schedule and update signage and intake procedures at Yuma County transfer stations.

The change follows recommendations from the County Supervisors Association and aims to align county practices with state rules while addressing a local operational shortfall.