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A Solution to the Illegal Dumping of Tires

Dear Source:
The solution to the tire dumping problem is simple. Under the current law, a consumer pays for a tire, uses it and then must pay again to properly dispose of it. The law needs to be turned on its head to create an incentive for proper disposal: like a bottle recycling program, the consumer should be paid to return the tire for disposal.
The program could be administered by tire businesses (they are already deeply involved in the disposal process). On the inception of the law, tire sellers should surcharge the tire sales price in the amount of $5.00. This surcharge should not be subject to gross receipts taxes. From that date forward a consumer could deliver a used tire to a tire business and receive a $5.00 fee per tire. Once in full swing, this charge and refund process should be a wash, with the tire businesses taking in as much as they return. At the beginning of the program, tires that had never been surcharged would be returned for refunds; in effect, costing the tire businesses $5.00 per tire until the pre-law tires have been disposed. This is where Government comes in. A sizable one time fund should be created in an amount estimated to cover the $5.00 fees for the tires "out here" at the inception of the program. For a designated period (or until the funds are expended) the Government, through WMA should pay the tire businesses $5.00 per tire accepted for disposal. In that way the tire business would not be required to pay for the collection of the existing tire back log.
I suspect that at $5.00 per tire, someone would find it worth his time to go down the ravine and recover the tires from the dump found by Danny Coughlin.
Gerry Groner
Frederiksted, St. Croix

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