Tire clean-up funds shrinking - Tires/Rubber - Citrus County, Florida - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Recycling Today, Oct, 2001

What was once a healthy source of funding in Florida for used-tire disposal has now diminished and been funneled to other projects, leaving counties without grants for tire disposal.

Each new tire purchased once included a $1 fee that helped pay for environmental programs and helped fund counties with money to recycle scrap tires. According to the St. Petersburg Times, the fee helped Citrus County recycle 500 tons of tires last year, including about 200 tons from illegal dumping sites. Although there is enough money to keep neighborhood recycling programs in service, the cleanup of illegal tire dumps will not continue.

The decreased funding will also mean the end of a contract with Mike Burns Enterprises as contractor for the cleanup of tire dumps in Citrus County, according to the newspaper.

Money the county received, about $152,000 in 2000, was only intended to help counties start recycling programs, not subsidize those efforts indefinitely, say some legislators. Grants were first given in 1989 and were only intended to continue for five years. Moderate participation and low commodity prices have contributed to the programs relying on the grant money.

In Citrus County's case, state grants covered about one third of the cost of recycling programs, with the county picking up the remainder of the tab. None of the state money will be granted in 2002.