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Senate Ways and Means Committee hears testimony on a bill to reinstate a tire waste fee.

May 4, 2004
By: Paul C. Matadeen
State Capital Bureau
Links: HB 774

===UPDATE 1===

The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard testimony about a bill to reimpose the waste tire fee that expired in January.

Paul Matadeen is at the state Capitol.

Story: UPDATE 1
RunTime: APPROX :40
OutCue: SOC

The bill already passed in the House.

It would impose a fee on new tires that would go towards finding alternatives to dumping.

Timothy Mahoney is in the tire recycling industry.

He says it's essential that the government makes sure the money goes towards new ideas and not get lost in the process.

Actuality: MAHONEY1.WAV
RunTime: :20
OutCue: "...SIGNIFICANTLY PLUMIT."
Contents:

"EIGHTY TO EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THESE TIRES ARE GOING TOWARDS TIRE-DERIVED FUEL. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT THE VALUE FOR THOSE TIRES IS VERY LOW. AND SO SHOULD SOME OF THE ECONOMICS CHANGE AND THE ENERGY BUSINESS WHERE THE COAL GOES DOWN OR NATURAL GAS BECOMES MORE PREFERRED OR THE EMISSIONS GET LESSENED THEN THE USE OF TIRE DERIVED FUEL WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY PLUMIT."

Some senators voiced concern that paying companies taxpayer money to develop recycling methods could lead to misuse of funds.

If the bill is approved, it'll go to the Senate floor for debate.

From the state Capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.

A Senate committee was urged to continue a 50-cent tax you pay to improve the environment.

Paul Matadeen is at the state Capitol.

Story:UPDATE 2
RunTime: APPROX. :40
OutCue: SOC

The bill would reinstate a tire waste surcharge that expired in January.

The money would go towards making sure old and used tires get disposed in an environmentally friendly way.

Carla Klein of the Sierra Club, Ozark Chapter, says the money would come just in time for recent budget cuts.

Actuality: Klein1.wav
RunTime: :09
OutCue: "...
Contents: "THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT NEEDS TO RETAIN THE MONEY WITHIN THE DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS SERIOUS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT."

Though the bill has bipartisan support, some senators voiced concern saying the funding might benefit private recycling companies more than the public.

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

From the state Capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee discussed whether or not to impose a 50-cent tax to pay for tire recycling.

Paul Matadeen has more from the state Capitol.

Story: UPDATE 3.WAV
RunTime: APPROX. :40
OutCue: SOC

The bill already passed the House.

Now Missouri Senators must decide if they should continue charging consumers a tire waste surcharge.

The money, they say, would go towards recycling old and used tires.

But despite bipartisan support, some senators say the money might help the tire recycling industry more than the environment.

Tim Mahoney of Welsch Products, a tire recycling company with facilities in northern Missouri, says his company like others will make sure the money goes towards development and not bureaucratic waste.

Actuality: MAHONEY2.WAV
RunTime: :09
OutCue: "...
Contents: "OUR EYE ON THE BALL IS TO MAKE SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTS FOR THE STATE AND FIND THE BEST INVESTMENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS."

If the committee approves the bill, it will go to the Senate floor for debate.

From the state Capitol, I'm Paul Matadeen.