The Utah State Senate moved Senate Bill 63 to a third reading after lawmakers clarified the bill would not eliminate the existing $1 recycling fee but would redirect shredder-related fees to counties that choose to provide on-site tire shredding.

Senator Winterton, speaking early in the discussion, said, "I love the bill, but the question comes in mind, we all pay a dollar recycling fee. So if we're going to use this for something constructive as cover, is that gonna go away?"

Senator Vickers, the bill sponsor, answered that the proposal does not change the statewide recycling fee. "No. There's no proposal to, change where the money how the money, you know, the money going into the system would just allow for those landfills that choose to either rent or buy a shredder to be able to have the traditional fee that is typically gone to the shredder back to the county," Vickers said. He added this would let a county "put that to beneficial use."

Senator Sandahl, who said she has worked on tire recycling for 10 years, thanked the sponsor and supported the bill, noting the program helps keep tires out of inappropriate disposal sites and that a one-year implementation delay was appropriate to allow rural providers time to adjust.

Vickers said negotiators had reached agreements with private shredders and end users and announced he would propose a third-reading substitute with a delayed implementation date and adjusted definitions for chipping and shredding.

The Senate then voted to read SB 63 for a third time. The clerk reported the result: 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent. The bill was ordered to be read for a third time.

Background: The bill would change how fees tied to tire shredding are distributed when a landfill elects to provide shredder services instead of paying a private company. The Senate discussion focused on preserving the existing recycling fee while redirecting shredder-specific payments to counties that operate shredders.

Votes at a glance: Senate bill 63 — Read for third time; recorded tally: 25 yea, 0 nay, 4 absent.

Next steps: SB 63 was ordered to be read for a third time as recorded and will proceed in the Senate process.