ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 6, 1996 TAG: 9601080005
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
The state hopes a new financial incentive will help reduce the number of tire dumps that litter the Virginia landscape.
The Virginia Waste Management Board voted to increase from $30 to $50 a ton the state-paid reimbursement for taking tires from the 730 illegal waste piles that range in size from 100 tires to 5 million.
The change will go into effect April 1.
Virginia, like many other states, has struggled for years to find a way to clean up illegal tire dumps.
The tire disposal program was started in December 1994 to provide payments to businesses such as recyclers, shredders and tire-burning power plants that accept waste tires.
Consumers provide the money by paying a 50-cent tax on each new tire. A hauler, called a ``tire jockey,'' takes old tires from dealers to the disposal site. With the tire-disposal business getting an increased state payment, it can charge the tire jockey less, and the jockey can charge the dealer less. - Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 30 linesby CNB