California Tire Bill Advances

AB509 amended and reassigned

California Assembly Bill 509, passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee 5-2 on July 5 and has been assigned to the Senate Appropriations committee.

AB 509, sponsored by Assembly Member Jim Frazier, would change the current state tire recycling grant program into an incentive program to help expand the use of tire-derived material. The measure also includes a provision to give Cal Recycle authority to impose an additional tire fee on tire dealers to cover program administrative costs.

The measure is moving forward with the support of the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), which successfully sought changes to the measure. One change would force Cal Recycle to spend down the current $70 million surplus in the Waste Tire Fund before imposing a new fee. Another would require the agency to thoroughly document and report how the incentive program is improving tire-recycling rates. Finally, USTMA and Assembly Member Frazier worked together to increase the amount of state funding from Cal Recycle for rubber modified asphalt projects.

The Northern California Recycling Association, the Clean River Alliance and the Sonoma County Task Force on Waste Diversion support the bill. The California Tire Dealers Association is neutral on the bill. The California Legislature adjourns in early September.

© Scrap Tire News, August 2017