Dive Brief:

• It has been discovered that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has not been correctly monitoring a program created to prevent tires from being illegally dumped.
• According to an audit released by the legislative auditor, the state of Louisiana could be paying processors too much.
• ​DEQ pays the tire processors based on weight, however, auditors claim the department does not ensure that the reported figures are accurate, prompting the department to change the audit and analysis procedures to confirm the numbers.

Dive Insight:

The discrepancy is not the first time a problem has been noted; similar issues were found one year ago as well. The state of Louisiana pays around $9 million annually to five tire companies who dispose and recycle the used tires. Residents help fund the budget by paying a fee when purchasing new tires.