(a) The Legislature finds as follows:

(1) The Alabama Scrap Tire Study Commission (STSC) submitted a report as required by Section 22-40-10, and SJR 152, adopted May 11, 2000. The section and the resolution both directed the STSC to study the present law and recommend revisions that are needed. The report from the STSC recommended substantial changes to the present law, which are incorporated into this chapter. The study and report were necessary to address the estimated 14 to 20 million tires stockpiled or illegally dumped.

(2) This state generates over five million scrap tires annually. Of these tires, an estimated two million are recycled annually and an estimated two million are disposed of legally in landfills. Many of the remaining tires are disposed of illegally and therefore may present a public health and/or environmental threat to the citizens of Alabama.

(b) This chapter has the following stated purposes, to:

(1) Remediate existing scrap tire stockpiles and prevent the formation of new ones.

(2) Provide a uniform, statewide system of regulation of scrap tires from the point of generation to the point of end use or disposal, to include a statewide scrap tire manifest system, and effective enforcement of scrap tire laws.

(3) Stimulate end use market development activities.

(4) Provide an adequate funding mechanism to clean up scrap tire piles, to provide for responsible enforcement of scrap tire laws, and to assist in promoting end use markets.

(5) Implement other recommendations contained in the report of the STSC.