The Republican Delegate Proposes Solutions for Recycling: A Republican delegate supported the proposal to impose stricter regulations on tire recycling, but not his Democratic counterparts.
Last week, a House subcommittee rejected the bill that Goochland Republican Del. Thomas Garrett had introduced. In addition to requiring tire manufacturers to register with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and utilize a licensed hauler to transport used tires to a licensed recycling center or processing facility, it would increase the fee the state charges on new tire sales to cover recycling expenses.
At present, DEQ maintains a list of processing facilities and haulers that voluntarily comply with the requirements for agency licensing. Garrett stated that the bill intends to impose penalties on individuals who collect used tires to sell them, only to dispose of the unsold tires in wooded areas and rivers.
The bill would require all haulers to possess a license and provide the state with information regarding the volume and destination of their shipments. Any violations would be subject to enforcement action by the Office of the Attorney General.
Alluding to the James River crossing separating Albemarle and Buckingham counties, Garrett stated, “I cannot load a canoe at Hatton Ferry and float two miles to my family’s property without going over hundreds of tires.” “Moreover, it is abhorrent, disgusting, and disgraceful, and it is our responsibility.”
However, tire shop proprietor and Member of Congress Robert Bloxom (R-Accomack) raised doubts regarding the bill’s efficacy and proper implementation.
“The issue is that those currently discarding them in the woods will continue to do so,” Bloxom explained.
The proposed legislation would also raise the state’s recycling tire fee on new tires from 50 cents to $2. The DEQ’s Waste Tire Trust Fund reimburses individuals for waste tire use or removal costs.
Approximately $1.8 million was misappropriated from the program’s fund, according to DEQ Director Michael Roland, during the administration of former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe. The provisions of Garrett’s bill would mandate the recurrence of said diversion.
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Since 1993, DEQ has reportedly extracted around 22.9 million waste tires from tire piles, as reported on its website.
According to a 2020 Pew Charitable Trusts study, 78% of microplastics in the ocean originated from synthetic tire rubber.
Republican Delegate Proposes Solutions for Recycling
“There exists a problem that requires resolution. It will be necessary to implement a variety of solutions. “I believe we can get there as we progress through the regulatory process,” Rolband said, adding that the agency had no stance on the bill.
The Virginia Automotive Association and the Virginia Forestry Association both expressed their support for the bill.
“We will support any initiative that helps prevent the unlawful disposal of tires, including providing financial assistance to forest landowners to cover the associated expenses,” stated Corey Conners, the executive director of the Virginia Forestry Association.
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