CT HB05139

Establishes a statewide tire stewardship program effective October 1, 2022, requiring tire producers to join a nonprofit tire stewardship organization by July 1, 2023 that designs and implements a recycling program.

Requires the stewardship program to provide free, convenient statewide collection of discarded tires from covered entities (retailers, garages, transfer stations) and free collection from municipal transfer stations with fewer than 100 tires due to space or permit constraints.

Mandates producers finance end-of-life management of collected tires, establish annual performance goals for tire recycling, and maintain financial reserves covering six months of operating costs.

Requires annual reporting to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection including tonnage collected, tonnage diverted to recycling, and program effectiveness evaluations; independent audits required every three years.

Prohibits participating covered entities from charging consumers for discarded tire receipt and bars any producer failing to participate in the stewardship program from selling or offering tires for sale in Connecticut.