Representatives L. Fite, S. Berry, and Senator Rice have introduced House Bill 1234 titled: Arkansas Commerce Tire Program Act. HB1234 would replace the legislation known as the Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act found at Ark. Code Ann. 8-9-401, et seq. The Arkansas General Assembly enacted legislation a number of years ago whose purpose is to ensure the appropriate management of waste tires in Arkansas. Amendments have since been made to the original legislation including an extensive rewrite that created the Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act.
Both the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment – Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ’) and the Arkansas Regional Solid Waste Management Districts have traditionally played an extensive role in the program. For example, DEQ has had in place regulations requiring permits for certain used tire collection, process, and disposal activities. In addition, the agency issues license to operate used tire processing facilities and used tire transporters.
The existing legislation also imposes certain fees which are used to:
- Reimburse used tire programs for used tire recycling and disposal cost
- Incentivize recycling used tires collected
An electronic uniform used tire manifest system has also been in place addressing the collection, transportation, distribution, and recycling, disposal, or resale of each recyclable tire, waste tire, and used tire for resale.