Connecticut Launches Tire Stewardship Program

0:00It's March 23rd. Welcome in. This is Hartford News today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Connecticut is kicking off the nation's first tire stewardship program, led by manufacturers, aimed at making it easier to ditch old tires. Starting this Saturday, folks in four towns, Redding, Weston, Newtown, and Canson, can drop off tires for free at local transfer stations. The state sees nearly three and a half million tires tossed each year, and this setup sends them to processors in Connecticut and Massachusetts for. Resail or recycling. Major brands like Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, and Goodyear are funding in through fees baked into new tire prices, about $2 per car, tire. It's called Extended Producer Responsibility, shifting the burden from residents and towns to the makers. Officials drew lessons from similar programs in Canada that started back in the 1990s. The goal is to curb illegal dumping in woods or lots, which costs governments big for clean

1:02ups and hurts the environment, but retailers who handle most tire drop-offs aren't required to join yet, so people might pay fees there on top of the new tire costs. Critics say this limits access and risks undermining the benefits. Lawmakers are pushing a compromise bill to bring retailers in by July 1st, 2027, after industry pushback on costs. Meanwhile, the program is lining up 16 more towns, and they're tackling issues like better tracking of tire sales to ensure enough funding. As a ramsum, backers hope to spark new markets, like turning tires into poorest pavement for paths and driveways, drawing investors ready to build. Facilities here. This could transform how Connecticut handles its tire waste for good.