Tire Incentive Program

The Tire Incentive Program (TIP) is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). The program is designed to promote the use of recycled crumb rubber in products manufactured in California. TIP provides reimbursement incentive payments to eligible businesses that utilize crumb rubber or substitute crumb rubber for virgin rubber, plastic, or other raw materials. TIP aims to support California’s efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainable materials management by encouraging manufacturers to incorporate recycled tire materials into their products. The program supports both new and existing products that use crumb rubber and devulcanized crumb rubber. It also incentivizes products that use fine mesh crumb rubber. Eligible applicants include manufacturers producing eligible products, waste tire processors that also manufacture an eligible product, manufacturers of devulcanized crumb rubber, rubber compounders, manufacturers of calendered rubber sheeting products, and manufacturers that produce products on a contract basis with permission. Applicants must ensure their products have not already benefited from the Tire-Derived Product Grant Program. Incentive payments are offered quarterly based on the quantity of crumb rubber or devulcanized rubber used in products sold during the grant term. Specific incentive rates include 10 cents per pound for Tire-Derived Product use, 40 cents per pound for feedstock conversion or devulcanized rubber, and 50 cents per pound for fine mesh crumb rubber. Products that receive any other CalRecycle incentives are not eligible for TIP incentives. Applications are submitted online through the CalRecycle Grants Management System (GMS). The current application cycle for fiscal year 2025-26 closes on August 20, 2025. There are no pre-application deadlines or Q&A opportunities specified in the program material. For more information, applicants may contact CalRecycle at tiregrants@calrecycle.ca.gov or (916) 341-6180. Previous award cycles include TIP12 (FY 2024-25), TIP11 (FY 2023-24), TIP10 (FY 2022-23), and TIP9 (FY 2021-22). Applicants are encouraged to join the TIP Listserv for program updates and future funding opportunities.