AG Brown continues to combat illegal tire-dumping harming salmon populations

The Washington State Attorney General's Office charged two individuals with allegedly dumping more than a thousand tires in Capitol State Forest. The individuals were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Thurston County District Court.

Tires contain a chemical that can be lethal to salmon, making tire-dumping a unique threat to Washington's natural resources. This criminal case is the latest in a series of efforts from the AG's office to combat illegal tire dumping in Washington state.

"Our salmon populations are a part of our history, our culture, and our way of life," said Brown. "We will continue to hold polluters accountable and protect Washington's salmon from the lethal harms of illegal dumping."

Tires contain the chemical 6PPD, which reacts with ozone in the air to form 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ). 6PPDQ is lethal to coho salmon and other aquatic life. Tires must be disposed of properly to ensure that 6PPDQ does not wash into waterways and endanger salmon populations. Waste tires can also harbor disease-transmitting vermin and create fire risk.

There has been a significant increase in illegal tire dumping on both public and private lands in Washington state in recent years. In 2024, Washington State Department of Natural Resources employees discovered that the two individuals allegedly dumped approximately 1,009 tires in Capitol State Forest over the course of two weeks.

The AG's office charged each of the two individuals with seven counts of unlawful dumping of solid waste and two counts of transporting waste tires without a license, which are both gross misdemeanors. Each count of a gross misdemeanor can carry a sentence of up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

According to the charging documents, the two individuals rented a truck, picked up the tires from tire shops along the I-5 corridor, resold what they could, and then dumped the rest in Capitol Forest. Businesses that haul and dispose of tires must be licensed to ensure tires are handled properly, but these two individuals did not have a license.

Last year, the AG's office found that some tire shops were hiring unlicensed individuals or businesses to dispose of tires, and in response, sent a letter to 339 tire shops urging them to hire only licensed providers. The AG's office continues to investigate illegal tire transportation and disposal and will pursue all available avenues to hold polluters accountable.

Read the complaint and statement of probable cause for both individuals:

• Complaint, Statement of Probable Cause
• Complaint, Statement of Probable Cause