Tire Recycling Day Near

Tired of looking at those old tires lying around?  Not only are they an eyesore, they can be dangerous.  The Darke County Solid Waste District and the Ohio EPA want to help you with your tire problem.  The district and EPA will be sponsoring a used tire collection on Thursday, September 26, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In addition to tires to being an eyesore, they are a nuisance to rural citizens who find them in their ditches, out in the fields and wooded areas.  Used tires make the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes that can carry diseases such as West Nile Virus, Lacrosse Encephalitis, St. Louis Encephalitis, Dengue and Yellow Fever.

Some mosquitoes have long-lived eggs, which can remain unhatched for years in old tires that were once wet and have dried out.  The eggs can be transported in tires that are trucked between counties, states and even countries.  When it rains, these tires collect water, wetting the inside of the tires where the eggs once were deposited, hatching out mosquitoes by the thousands.  By disposing of used tires properly, we reduce the chance of disease.

The Tire Recycling Day is open to all Darke County residents, farmers, municipalities and townships. Unfortunately, no tires will be accepted from junk yards or junk dealers, garages, auto repair shops; tire, automobile, truck, farm-equipment dealerships; atv/motorcycle shops or commercial trucking/hauling businesses.

Those interested in participating in this one-day event must pre-register.  Pre-registration begins Wednesday, August 28, 2013, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Darke County Solid Waste District, 603 Wagner Ave, Suite C, Greenville (with OSU Extension and the Job Center).  Pre-registration ends on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. Participants must provide a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification and sign a waiver that the tires being brought for recycling are from a residence in order to participate.  On September 2, 2013, the district will be closed due to the Labor Day holiday.

Participants are asked to remove rims from all tires before taking them to the Rumpke Transfer Station at 5474 Jaysville-St John Rd, Greenville, on September 26, 2013.  Those tires left on rims will not be accepted.  Passenger tires will be accepted FREE of charge, however, there is a limit of 75 tires per Darke County address.  Tractor tires pre-registered will be charged a $15.00 fee per tire at the time of registration.  Tractor tires larger than 28” wide will not be accepted.  Semi/truck tires pre-registered will be charged a $5.00 per tire fee.  This year, the first 5 tractor tires will be $5 each and the first 10 semi/truck tires will be free thanks to a grant from the Ohio EPA.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, all tires must be secured and tarped before arriving at the transfer station unless they are in an enclosed vehicle, trailer, etc.  Untarped loads can be refused.

Assisting the Solid Waste District and Environmental Council will be Community Service workers, the Environmental Division of the Darke County Health Department, Darke County Engineer, Darke County Highway Garage, Rumpke employees and many volunteers.