HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5080
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Transportation
Title: An act relating to extending tire replacement fees.
Brief Description: Extending tire replacement fees.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Marr, Swecker, Murray, Weinstein, Kauffman, Rasmussen, Hatfield, Hobbs, Berkey, Pridemore, Regala, Tom, McCaslin, Oemig, Jacobsen and Rockefeller).
Brief History:
Transportation: 4/9/07 [DP].
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 17 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Flannigan, Vice Chair; Jarrett, Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Campbell, Eddy, Hudgins, Lovick, Rodne, Rolfes, Sells, Simpson, Springer, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Schindler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong and Hailey.
Staff: Jerry Long (786-7306).
Background:
From October 1989, until September 1995, a $1 fee was assessed on the retail sale of each
new replacement tire. The fee was collected by the tire seller, who was entitled to retain 10
percent of the fee. Revenue generated by the fee was used to fund state and local efforts to
remove discarded tires from unauthorized dump sites, local enforcement, pilot projects for
on-site tire shredding, implement a public education program, produce marketing studies on
tire recycling, and fund a tire study.
In 2002, the Legislature enacted a requirement that the Department of Ecology (DOE) track
and report the annual and cumulative increases and decreases in the state's tire recycling rates.
Individuals who engage in the business of transporting or storing waste tires are required to
be licensed by the DOE.
In 2005, the Legislature reinstated the $1 tire fee on the sale of each new replacement tire.
Tire retailers retain 10 percent of the fee and remit the remainder to the Department of
Revenue. There was also a provision for the DOE to conduct a study of unauthorized tire
piles in Washington. The study identified 54 sites statewide and an estimated 818 on-site
days for the site cleanups. The fee is scheduled to sunset June 30, 2010. The Waste Tire
Removal Account (Account) was also created in the State Treasury and monies in the
Account are used for the cleanup of unauthorized waste tire piles and to implement measures
to prevent future accumulation of unauthorized waste tire piles.
Summary of Bill:
The $1 fee sunset of June 30, 2010 is removed. Expenditures from the Account may be used
for the cleanup of unauthorized waste tire piles, measures that prevent future accumulation of
unauthorized waste tire piles, and road-wear-related maintenance on state and local public
highways.
On July 1 of odd-numbered years, the State Treasurer must transfer any cash balance in
excess of $1 million from the Waste Tire Removal Account to the Motor Vehicle Account
for the purpose of road-wear-related maintenance.
On September 1 of even-numbered years, the DOE must provide a report to the legislative
transportation committees on the progress being made on the cleanup of the unauthorized
waste tire piles and make recommendations to the committees to prevent the formation of
future unauthorized waste tire piles.
Obsolete statutes are deleted.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5080 leaves the Department of Ecology an
adequate amount of funding to complete the cleanup of identified unauthorized tire piles in
Washington. Clean up of the largest tire pile at Goldendale has already begun. Several
processes will be used to clean up the tire piles including uses on fire ranges, chipping, and
disposal in landfills. The goal is to recycle as many tires as possible.
(Opposed) The $1 recycling fee should sunset as originally scheduled on June 30, 2010. The
companies that are not recycling tires as required should be penalized. The key is to hold the
companies financially responsible for their actions. There are a lot of ways to use old tires:
energy, dock bumpers, floats, shredding, and drainage.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Cullen Stephenson, Department of Ecology.
(Opposed) Mark Hope, Tire Disposal and Recycling; and Richard Nordness, Northwest Tire
Dealers Association.