Got old tires? The State of Vermont wants to know this summer. File photo
Middlebury — Like to snoop on your neighbors? When it comes to piles of old tires, the Vermont Legislature and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources are actively seeking snitches.
Recent state law passed earlier this year now requires the Agency of Natural Resources to compile a database of “problem tire piles” around the state.
ANR will, in turn, estimate the cost and time needed to remove the tires at inventoried locales.
ANR officials define problem tire piles as those as having 100 tires or more.
“We are aware of a number of tire piles, especially those at salvage yards, but there could be many more scattered throughout the state,” said Cathy Jamieson, ANR’s Solid Waste Program manager. “We are asking for local input in determining where those piles are.”
To identify where tire piles are located, ANR has set up an Internet survey that will pinpoint big tire piles.
Jamieson said likely “problem” piles will be several hundred. They are typically in junk yards and around farms, some discreetly hidden from view.
“Most scrap tires in Vermont are responsibly collected through retail tire dealers or solid waste facilities,” Jamieson added, “but some persons may not want to pay the $2 or $3 recycling fee and are stockpiling or disposing of the tires improperly. We need to get a sense of how much of a problem this is.”
The law allows the ANR to fund tire pile clean ups, but only after providing
Owners of problem tire piles are asked to do the clean up work, but ANR has offered repayment—thanks to taxpayers—for the clean up costs.
The Vermont Legislature expects a report from ANR at the start of the January session.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID