Yellow playground on top of a scrap tire surfacing material play area.

Application Period is Closed

During the 2019 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly reauthorized the 50-cent scrap tire fee applied to the retail sale of every new tire. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is authorized to distribute up to 45% of the revenues generated from the fees for grants focused on scrap tire market development. This program offers grants for the cost and delivery of scrap tire material for surfacing projects and projects that use a product made from at least 40% Missouri-generated scrap tires.

  • Non-Playground Scrap Tire Material Grants - Running tracks, walking trails, equine/ livestock stalls/ riding areas, benches, picnic tables and other similar types of surfacing projects or molded products.
  • Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grants - Playground mats or surfaces only.

The department offers and awards grants each year. A notice of funding availability is made, typically in the spring or summer, based on funds generated for that year.

Information and Assistance

The department’s Waste Management Program staff are available to answer questions. 

Who Can Apply

A picnic table made from recycled scrap tires

Public schools, private schools, parks, non-profit day care centers, other non-profit organizations and governmental organizations other than state agencies are eligible to submit applications.

Recipients who have received a playground or non-playground scrap tire material grant(s) within the last 10 years are ineligible, unless expanding a prior surfaced area is planned or a different location/ area will be surfaced. Privately-owned businesses and organizations, residential backyard areas and private in-home day care centers are not eligible.

Eligible Projects and Costs

Funds are available for the cost, delivery and vendor installation of scrap tire surface material for playgrounds, running tracks, walking trails, equine stalls/riding area, picnic tables or benches, or other similar projects or products. The project must use at least 40% Missouri generated scrap tires to be eligible. If the chosen vendor is not on the department provided list of approved vendors, then bids must specify the minimum percentage of Missouri generated scrap tires used in their product(s).

Mats/ tiles or pour-in-place material must be placed on asphalt, concrete or other suitable surfaces. All surfacing projects must conform to the manufacturer’s specifications and be approved by the department. All projects must be located within the state of Missouri

Award Amounts and Match

Non-playground Scrap Tire Material Grants - Approximately $400,000 is available for the cost, delivery and vendor installation of scrap tire surface material for running tracks, walking trails, equine/ livestock stalls/ riding area or similar types of surfacing projects or molded products. Grant recipients requesting mats/ tiles or pour-in-place surface material or molded products will be eligible to receive up to $50,000.

Playground Scrap Tire Surface Material Grants - Approximately $600,000 is available for the cost, delivery and vendor installation of scrap tire surface material for playgrounds only. Grant recipients requesting mats/ tiles or pour-in-place surface material will be eligible to receive up to $40,000.

The department awards both playground and non-playground grants on a competitive basis. There is no match requirement.

Application Process

The application period for Scrap Tire Surface Material Grants is currently closed. A notice of funding availability is normally announced each spring, at which time the department will begin accepting applications for that grant cycle. Applications are submitted by mail or online through the department's Funding Opportunities Portal

Grant recipients must execute a Financial Assistance Agreement with the department before beginning any work on an approved grant project.