Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • War in Ukraine
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • ITEC
    • Silicone
    • Online Exclusive
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Sustainability
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
  • Airless Tires
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
    • Rubber In Automotive Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
June 13, 2018 02:00 AM

Georgia scrap tire program improves, but funding still lags

Rubber & Plastics News Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    ATLANTA—The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has taken steps to improve inspections and enforcement in the state's scrap tire program since an audit of the program three years ago.

    However, funding for the program remains a problem, with the Georgia legislature still appropriating less than half the money gathered under the state's Solid Waste Trust Fund to use for scrap tire abatement, according to the June 2018 follow-up review by the Performance Audit Division of the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.

    The original audit in September 2015 found that appropriations to the SWTF were well below the actual money collected, and that the number of activities funded by the SWTF had dropped over the previous decade, according to the report.

    In 2015, auditors found deficiencies in inspection and enforcement arising from several factors, including:

    • Staffing vacancies and uneven workload distribution;
    • Insufficient guidance for inspectors;
    • Decentralized information systems; and
    • Inadequate management oversight.

    "It also noted that the program lacked methods to ensure that scrap tire fees were being properly collected and remitted," the auditors said.

    In the past three years, the Environmental Protection Division has done much to improve scrap tire inspections and enforcement, according to the report.

    It created a Tire Management Unit to centralize the management of program inspectors, and created new policies and procedures to guide the work of inspectors, the auditors said.

    It also filled vacant inspector positions, reallocated workloads and improved the information system used for tracking tire dump enforcement actions, they said.

    "However, our review found that many parties had not responded to notices of violations sent by the program in 2017," the report said. "Officials indicated that the workload makes it difficult to follow up in all cases and that staff follow-up phone calls or emails would not be captured by the system."

    Part of the problem is that appropriations to the SWTF remain only a portion of the money actually collected under Georgia's scrap tire fee, which amounts to $1 on each new tire sold in the state, the auditors said.

    Scrap tire fee collections increased from $6.4 million in fiscal year 2015 to $7.2 million in FY 2017, the report said. But appropriations to the SWTF were only $3.2 million in FY 2017, and were actually reduced to $2.8 million in FY 2018, it said

    The scrap tire fee must be reauthorized by its sunset date in June 2019, according to the report. The Environmental Protection Division has not yet prepared estimates of its funding needs, but intends to discuss its ongoing activities and projects with stakeholders to nail down its estimates, the auditors said.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Is worst of new-vehicle inventory shortage in rearview mirror?
    2
    Boiler malfunction idles Zeon operations in Japan, restart date set
    3
    Michelin's hydrogen partners: 4 things to know about Symbio's stakeholders
    4
    Technical Notebook: Effects of polymer type and Prophene on vibration isolator performance
    5
    Goodyear to trim jobs to address 'uncertain' economic outlook
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Rubber Division IEC
      • War in Ukraine
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • ITEC
      • Silicone
      • Online Exclusive
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Blogs
        • Products
        • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Sustainability
    • Airless Tires
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • Healthcare Elastomers Conference
        • Rubber In Automotive Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION