Scrap tire fee begins Oct. 1

According to the DNR, the May passage of Senate Bill 225, which has been signed by Gov. Matt Blunt, reinstates the fee.

The bill also has several other provisions.

Under the bill, the funds generated by the scrap tire fee can be used for public health, environmental and safety projects in response to environmental emergencies such as tire fires. The department also will be able to provide community grants for recycled rubber playground surfaces and in support of educational outreach opportunities.

Waste tires must be disposed of correctly to prevent health hazards, such as holding water that creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which are known to carry the West Nile virus and other diseases. Waste tire fires release hazardous substances into the air, and possibly into groundwater sources, and can burn for long periods of time.