I recently bought tires for my truck, and saw “disposal fee” listed on the invoice. Not the one to discard my old tires, but a pre-disposal fee figured into my new tires to allow disposal when they wear out.

I believe these fees are also put onto air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and other such large appliances. This has been going on for years, and yet I see no application when the tire or appliance wears out.

What happens to this money? Why isn’t it available to local cities and towns for their waste management costs? I’m told it’s a state charge, but I hear no more from it than that. Somehow we should bring to light who gets the money and where it is applied.

Here in China, it’s almost impossible to throw anything out without weighing your vehicle and then weighing it again after you’ve thrown your stuff. Two years ago, I paid $6 to throw out a 6-foot round kiddie wading pool I bought for $10. A sheet of Sheetrock is considered construction waste, and costs $10 to dispose of.

I see old tires beside the road lots of times as I travel.

These fees are a burden on families struggling to get by, while the money that would or should be helping evaporates in our government.

Mike Dawes

China