DENVER (March 6, 2009)—A bill in the Colorado assembly that would more than double the state's scrap tire fee would do nothing to abate the worst scrap tire stockpiling in the nation, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
The bill, which passed the Colorado Senate 18-15 on Feb. 25, would create a grant program for developing clean technology research projects within the state, including projects for renewable energy, energy efficiency and recycling. Its provisions allow for at least one project for the development of innovative scrap tire disposal and recycling methods.
However, the legislation would increase the fees collected on each new tire sold in Colorado to $3.25 from $1.50 and would do nothing to address the 4.5 million scrap tires generated annually in the state, the RMA said. It would also ignore the worst scrap tire pile in the U.S.—the 40 million-tire pile in El Paso County, Colo., the association said.
Already Colorado diverts 80 percent of each $1.50 collected to purposes other than scrap tires, said Michael Blumenthal, RMA vice president, in a press release.
“Colorado's pro-environment reputation is challenged by the state's abysmal record in managing waste tires,” Blumenthal said.