Your weekly trash service will not take tires and most disposal facilities don't accept them. This makes them one of the hardest items to dispose of and why the are constantly littered along the road and vacant lots.
Scrap tires are a major health concern. Trapped water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and can increase their reproduction rate up to 100%! Also, decomposing tires release hazardous chemicals and gases. If they burn they release toxic chemicals and gases.
I remember as a teen in 1995 a tire fire about 30 miles from my house. We could see the thick black smoke and debris falling from the sky for a week. Here is a video of the fire: FIRE. This burned for a about a week above ground and months below ground. It is estimated to have burned up to 6 million tires! EPA decided to let the tires burn vs putting out the fire because of the chemicals the tires release while burn would run in the water supplies.
Although, they seem difficult to dispose of, they are not. Just about every store (Walmart, Firestone, NTB, etc) that install tires will accept used tires for a fee and there is probably a limit. Some transfer stations or landfill might accept them, but they cannot place them in the ground because it is illegal. Tires must be recycled in the state of Georgia and you have to store them inside.
Recycled tire are used for many different things: mulch, playground bedding, roads, roofing, fuel, recapped & reused, artificial reefs, clothing, etc
Another option is to re-purpose the tires. Simply google used tire uses and you can stay busy all day. Some of my favorite are:
- Shooting barrier or shooting house. The military love building house out of tires to train for urban operations. *note the tires must be filled with dirt.
- Potato garden. Simply start with one tire and as plant grows add another tire on top with soil. Continue this till it is time to harvest. Then simply unstack them and grab your potatoes. If you have ever had to dig up potatoes you will know why this is a great idea
- Then there is everyone's favorite. The tire swing. No explanation needed.
Did you know at every tire you buy has a tax on it for scrap tire abatement?
We, Bin There Dump That Atlanta, can haul and dispose of tires in certain locations. Just call us find out if we can help you.
