Missouri DNR Wants to Reimpose Tire Fee

A fee imposed by the state of Missouri that was applied to automobile tire purchases the end of December, and the Department of Natural Resources says the loss of revenue could pose health risks to the public. The end of the fee leaves Missouri without any source of funding to clean up waste tires in the state.

During the length of time when the tire fee was in place the state was estimated to have removed around 12 million tires from illegal waste tire dumps in the state.

In addition to using the money generated from the fee to clean up illegal tire dumps, money was used to develop end markets for scrap tires in the state.

"It is unfortunate the tire fee expired this year," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Missouri DNR. "However, the department still has existing agreements in place to remove tires. The department will continue to remove as many waste tires from Missouri's environment as possible until the fund balance is completely expended."

The DNR estimates more than 3 million waste tires will remain scattered across Missouri's roadsides and communities when the fee expires. When similar fees expired in other states, dumping increased.

The department is already launching a campaign for the 2004 legislative session to reinstate what the fee funded, a program that enforced state laws on tire disposal, cleaned up illegal tire piles and provided incentives for schools and communities to use shredded tires for playground surfaces.

The Missouri state legislature passed the tire fee, which assesses 50 cents per tire.

One state representative introduced a bill that would extend the fee through 2009 and would require DNR to give preference of contracts to Missouri businesses that help with recycling.