CBS Atlanta 46State lawmaker introduces bill to combat illegal tire dumping

Millions of tires are recycled in Atlanta each year, but millions more are dumped around the city illegally.

 

"I'm tired of cleaning up illegally dumped tires," said state Representative Rashad Taylor.

 

Taylor introduced a bill in the legislature a few weeks ago to address tire dumping.  So CBS Atlanta News asked him what he believes is causing the problem.

 

"The way it is now, the people who pick up the tires for the recycling are paid on the front end and there's no incentive for them to actually take those tires to a recycling place and pay that recycling fee," said Taylor.

 

Taylor said House Bill 915 would require tire haulers to recycle first and then receive payment.

 

"Well I think the tire dumping issue has become an epidemic," said Dewey Grantham with Liberty Tire Recycling.

 

Grantham said tire dumping legislation is long overdue.

"I think this legislation is a start.  It will give us the foundation we need to grow off of and we can make it into something that really will make a difference," said Grantham.

 

Lawmakers could discuss the issue in the natural resources committee as early as next week and Taylor believes it's time to take action.

 

"How will you assure that this will work?" asked CBS Atlanta Reporter Adam Murphy.

 

"There's no guarantee.  Part of the problem is there are not enough inspectors with the Department of Environmental Protection to go after the bad actors in this process so we do need to increase the enforcement aspect of it, but I think requiring them to be paid after they return the manifest is a necessary first step in addressing the problem," said Taylor.