Wednesday, October 20, 1999
10,000 tires turned in
Free disposal helps reduce health hazard
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON — It's a good thing the tires are rolling in, because a tire amnesty program in Northern Kentucky may never happen again.
Boone County has collected more than 10,000 tires since Sunday as part of a tire amnesty program that will eventually be held in Kenton and Campbell counties as well.
“This is probably the only one time,” said Nate Sturm, solid waste coordinator for the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. “The past ones have been county-funded.”
Funding for the tire amnesty program comes from the Waste Tire Trust Fund, generated by collecting $1 on the sale of each new tire.
“That thing will sunset in July 2002,” Mr. Sturm said.
Matt Burris, Boone County solid-waste coordinator, said a steady stream of trucks moved in and out of the site all afternoon Tuesday.
“We're trying to get every last tire in Northern Ken tucky,” he said.
There are a couple of reasons why so many people are coming out.
“We're taking tires from any of the three counties in Northern Kentucky,” he said. “We're taking any number, and we're taking tires on the rims.”
Some farmers have had the tires for literally decades, and others have been making repeated trips.
“People are saving so much money,” Mr. Burris said. “They (tires) are so expensive to dis pose of. In two trips, one guy saved probably $900.”
“I've been gathering them up, helping my friends,” said Don McGuire of Petersburg.
He brought in about 35 tires.
“I had two teen-age boys, and at one time they used to be in the hot-rod business. I think it's a wonderful program. I took advantage of it.
“We might be back tomorrow.”
Mr. Sturm said it's important to properly remove tires for several rea sons.
“Our concern is it's a health hazard,” he said. “Mosquitos breed 5,000 times faster in tire piles than a normal landscape. There's an environmental hazard when they burn.
“They're really hard to put out.”
Rumpke will carry the tires to a shredder that will be set up in Kenton County. Since tires float to the top in landfills, they must be shredded first.
After they're shredded, they'll be used as a fluff layer to protect the liner of a landfill in Medora, Ind.
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