The Florida Automotive Trades Association (FATA) is supporting pending legislation that would require government entities to pay the state's scrap tire fee.
Florida tire dealers currently collect a $1 tire disposal fee on new tires that goes to the state's Solid Waste Management Trust Fund. State agencies aren't required to pay that fee when purchasing tires. But retailers must still pay the tire fee from the transactions to the state Department of Revenue regardless of who the purchaser was or face penalties, said FATA President Shawn Long.
House Bill 109 and Senate Bill 786 are moving through committees in the statehouse and should be up for a full vote in late April, said FATA lobbyist Patrick Bell. The bills would require government agencies to pay the fees.
FATA also is lobbying for an appropriations bill that would grant $100,000 to the association for tire recycling training programs it will offer to members and non-members. Mr. Bell said FATA believes dealers need to be trained in tire disposal and recycling in the event of a hurricane.
The bill also would grant another $100,000 to fund training for local recycling coordinators on tire technology and recycling. Mr. Bell said most haven't been trained on tires in the past eight years.