The City of Oklahoma City is working with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department and the JFK Neighborhood Association to include tire recycling into a day of large trash pickup.
Walter Jacques, director of quality assurance for protective health services, said that all too frequently, car dealerships or tire shops illegally dump old tires in abandoned areas or vacant lots.
“They present a health hazard: Water can pool up in there, mosquitoes can breed, and mosquitoes can spread West Nile virus and other illnesses,” Jacques said. “Neighborhoods where the tires have been illegally dumped can be beautified by getting them out of there.”
There are some restrictions, however: No tractor, forklift or other large vehicle tires, no tires with rims and no tires brought in from salvage yards or dealers are allowed.
Jacques called the event “large-trash-pickup amnesty” because people can safely discard more than just tires. Residents can dispose of large materials and hazardous materials from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the southeast corner of Missouri and N.E. 8th Street.
The disposal is free, and volunteers will ensure materials get properly recycled.
“It’s going to be an earth-friendly event to clean up the neighborhoods,” Jacques said.
For more information, email [email protected].
Photo by Mark Hancock
