Lawmaker: Discarded tire recycling & management bill’s time has arrived

Rep. Emilio Carlo Acosta

By THE STAR STAFF

Seeking alternatives that help solve the growing crisis stemming from the closure of landfills and the low recycling rate on the island, District 20 (Cabo Rojo, San Germán and Hormigueros) Rep. Emilio Carlo Acosta drew attention to House Bill (HB) 630 on Monday.

The bill, filed by the lawmaker earlier this year, aims to transform the management of discarded tires in Puerto Rico.

“Through this bill we seek to strengthen the local recycling industry, create fairer conditions for transporters and provide sustainable solutions for municipalities, while promoting the use of recycled products in road construction and rehabilitation work financed by the [central] government and municipalities,” the legislator said.

Among the proposed changes, the measure seeks to amend Articles 4 and 9 of Act No. 41-2009, and Article 52 of Act No. 416-2004, in order to transform the management of discarded tires in Puerto Rico.

“One of the key aspects of the measure is the establishment of a minimum requirement for collected tires that must be processed and recycled in local facilities,” Carlo Acosta said. “The proposal also contemplates recognizing the carriers of discarded tires as eligible to charge fees for their services, in addition to creating a clear and functional mechanism for such transactions.”

The lawmaker stressed that the proposal not only addresses an urgent environmental problem, but also represents an opportunity to promote innovation, reduce dependence on landfills and generate green jobs.

“The country is finally talking about a problem that has been denounced for years, the lack of control in the handling of discarded tires, the mountains of accumulated tires and the situation that this creates for the state to recycle,” Carlo Acosta said. “HB 630 not only recognizes this crisis, it addresses it head-on and with concrete actions.”

He emphasized that the bill represents a concrete opportunity to optimize the management of discarded tires and promote the circular economy on the island.

“We cannot continue to export the problem or lose millions in economic opportunities,” the legislator said.

HB 630, filed by Carlo Acosta on May 12 of this year, was referred to the House Natural Resources Committee on May 15, the date on which it was also included in the first reading