Three-day tire collection event starts March 30

BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Bring your waste tires during Martin County’s limited three-day waste tire collection event to get rid of them for free.

The event will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 30 and 31 and 9 a.m.-noon April 1 at the old Inez trash transfer station.

Martin County Solid Waste coordinator Eric Phelps says there are several environmental safety reasons for people to rid themselves of waste tires, not the least of which is that tires invariably collect water and breed mosquitoes.

“There are also contaminants with certain old tires,” Phelps said. “In our area, 90% of the tires that don’t get recycled or taken to the proper disposal places end up in our creeks and streams, which leads to other issues and problems.”

Tires that are dropped off will be recycled.

“The tires can be recycled as crumb rubber, mulch for playgrounds, park benches and picnic tables and other products,” said Phelps.

Any Kentucky resident can participate in the program. However, tire retailers, scrap salvage yards and recycling facilities are prohibited.

Tires will be accepted on or off the rim, including truck, light truck, passenger, implement, lawn tractor, bicycle, motorcycle, golf cart, etc.

Tires not accepted include foam-filled tires, calcium-filled tires, off-road construction tires (OTR), rubber tracks and solid tires with/without press-on rims.

“We encourage everybody to round up their old tires and bring them in,” said Phelps. “We will get rid of them absolutely free.”

The program is sponsored by Kentucky’s Waste Tire Trust Fund, Department for Environmental Protection and Martin County, with funding from the state’s $2 tire disposal fee imposed on each new tire sold at retail.

The old Inez trash transfer station is at 1030 West Main Street beside the Little League field.

For questions, contact Phelps at (606) 298-2800.