TAKE ACTION:

1. Contact your local representative

The Tire Bill is starting in the house and will have to pass through both the Natural Resources/Energy Committee and the Ways and Means Committee. Legislators respond well to contact from the public who feel strongly about this bill and it is a great way to help ensure the bill's future to becoming a law.

Please contact any of your local representative who are members of either committee (See list below of legislators on the committees in which to bill will be looked at, you can find thier contact information here)

2. Attend the Bill's hearing in the Committe of Natural Recources and Energy on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

3. Send a letter to your local newspaper

SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Every year thousands of tires are dumped illegally into the Winooski River by consumers unwilling to pay the cost of proper disposal. These tires are an environmental concern, a public safety hazard, and an aesthetic sore to both the river and the community based on and around this river. The composition of tires is a dangerous mix of hazardous chemicals, and when submerged, these tires leach pollutants into our waterways. Unfortunately, the tires do not confine themselves to just one river. The waterways of our state are littered with tires.

Many groups have taken action to mitigate this problem. Friends of the Winooski, joined by the Montpelier High School Earth Group, and have collectively extracted over one thousand tires in six years from a two-mile section of the Winooski River.

While these efforts are aiding the already damaged river, a more extensive solution is needed. This problem will not fix itself and tire after tire will continue to be dumped into Vermont's rivers.

The problem must be attacked at its foundation. A solution is needed. We must address the issue of why people throw tires in rivers. The consumer needs a financial incentive to bring their tires back to the dealer. A bill, drafted by MHS Earth Group with the support of many legislators, is currently in the house and senate committees of Natural Resources and Energy that would add a deposit onto the sale of new tires in the state of Vermont, which would then be returned to the buyer when the tire is returned. Similar to the bottle recycling system, which is diverting millions of cans and bottles from being thrown away or littered, this bill aims to establish the nation's firstredeemable tire deposit to divert tires from ending up in the river.

(H. 146, S.155)

Vermonters are calling for this measure. Over a thousand signatures from Central Vermont residents have been gathered in support of the amendment: one for each tire pulled. In addition to the deposit, the bill would develop existing scrap tire markets, and shepherd the creation of new ones. Tires must not remain in our state's rivers. A redeemable tire deposit will be a major step towards protecting Vermont's rivers from further degradation and to developing a sustainable use for used tires. It is the only solution that effectively meets the problem where it lies, giving the consumer a financial incentive to keep tires out of rivers.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO CONTACT

COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Representative Obuchowski of Rockingham, Chair Representative Otterman of Topsham, Vice-Chair

Representative Allaire of Rutland City Representative Ancel of Calais

Representative Branagan of Georgia Representative Donovan of Burlington

Representative Nuovo of Middlebury Representative Peterson of Williston

Representative Rusten of Halifax Representative Smith of Morristown

Representative Winters of Williamstown

Call any of the above reps to express your support for the bill

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