Residents can dispose of tires at no cost in Cape, Scott counties

Two local counties are providing residents an opportunity to properly dispose of scrap tires at no cost.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, a partner in the disposal process, said on its website the removal of scrap tires is a priority for environmental and health reasons. It estimates that Missouri residents generate approximately 5 million scrap tires annually, which can then harbor "mosquitoes, snakes and other vermin."

The program at Scott County already is underway, and highway superintendent Norman Brant said it has collected more than 2,000 tires. Although improper disposal has not been a large problem in the area, he said the county found it important to offer the program.

"This is just an opportunity for people to have their tires properly disposed of for free, so we wanted to take advantage of it," said Brant. "Plus, tires or anything that collects water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes."

In Cape Girardeau County, floodplain and stormwater manager Ken Eftink said scrap tires were a problem.

Scott County highway superintendent Norman Brant sits Thursday with some of the two thousand to three thousand tires collected by the Scott County Highway Department. The collection effort will continue until June 29. (Adam Vogler)

"It's a good opportunity to clean up some properties and get rid of some eyesores," he said. "We do find a lot of tires left on the side of the road, and those will be disposed of this collection day ... and many people just burn their tires, which damages the air quality, but this way they get recycled."

Eftink said the tires collected from Cape Girardeau County would be taken to a power plant in Jefferson City, where they would be ground up and mixed with coal to be burned and used for electricity. Brant said he was unsure where the tires would go once they were hauled away from Scott County, but common uses for recycled rubber include cushioning on running tracks and playgrounds, according to the DNR website.

Cape Girardeau County periodically participates in scrap tire collection programs, Eftink said. When the last one was held in 2008, he said about 6,200 tires were collected.

"We've already received a few phone calls, so it looks like there's going to be lots of interest," Eftink said. "It's hard to predict an exact number, but there are a lot of people that have tires they need to get rid of."

Both county collections come with restrictions. Both have a limit of 25 auto or pickup tires per household, including up to four farm-tractor tires. No solid, foam or liquid-filled tires will be accepted, but tires on rims may be brought in. No tires will be accepted from commercial businesses.

Those living in Cape Girardeau County may dispose of tires from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday only at the MoDOT Highway Maintenance Office at 198 State Highway Y, near the intersection of Highways 61 and Y. Only residents living in the county may participate.

In Scott County, the collection is open at the Scott County Highway Department in Benton, Mo., 497 Charleston Street, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The final collection time will be 8 a.m. to noon on June 29. The collection is open to Scott County residents only.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

497 Charleston St., Benton, Mo.

198 State Highway Y, Jackson, Mo.