Missouri cleans up 16 million scrap tyres

ERJ staff report (DS)

Jefferson City, Missouri -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' tyre-dump cleanup efforts have resulted in the removal of more than 16 million scrap tyres from Missouri's landscape, the department announced on 21 January.

Since 1990, said the Department, when the tyre dump clean-up effort began, more than 983 sites have been cleaned up, resulting in the removal of more than 16 million scrap tyres.

The most recent programme, the Tire Dump Roundup Program, began in November 2006 and absorbs the cost of cleanup of eligible sites. This is funded by a State-wide Scrap Tire Fee, a 50-cent-per-tyre fee charged on every new tyre purchased in Missouri. The fee will expire on Jan. 1, 2015, unless extended by the legislature.

The department estimates there are more than 231,000 tyres remaining to be cleaned up throughout the state in 185 sites. These tyres are in known dumps throughout the state, and the department estimates there are 500,000 tyres remaining in unknown dumps.

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Press release from Missouri Department of Natural Resources