ELYRIA, Ohio — The Lorain County Public Health reports its county collection centers took in more than 400,000 pounds of scrap tire last year alone, but said its an ongoing battle that has a long way to go.
Lorain County Health Commissioner Dave Covell told News 5 the health and environmental risks caused by large mountains of used tires should not be underestimated.
“Just a small amount of water in tires can produce a lot of misquotes and we get concerned about that,” Covell said.
“West Nile virus, it can be deadly and it’s been a real problem here in Northeast Ohio.”
Covell said the health department is working with the county environmental crimes unit and the Ohio EPA to identify sites that are harboring tens of thousands of used tires.
He said in many cases the property owner works with the county to get the tires into recycling, but said sometimes an investigation is needed to mitigate the hazard.
“You’d be surprised what you can find on Google Maps, we take a look at it and then we can go on their property,” Covell said.
“Sometimes the owners are not very cooperative, and in that case we bring the sheriff’s department in and prosecute them.”
Lorain County Commissioner Lori Kokoski told News 5 recycling is a county priority, especially when it comes to scrap tire mountains.
“It’s been a big problem and I think the commissioners have tried to address it,” Kokoski said.
“Our Environmental Crime Unit, they're out there and they’re looking for people breaking the law.”
Jim Skora helps to direct the county recycling program through GT Environmental and explained getting a handle on the scrap tire problem is critical, since Ohioans generate 11 million used tires annually.
“We as residents generate one tire per person, per year as generation rate,” Skora said.
"There was a gentleman who passed away in Michigan from encephalitis disease that pointed back to mosquitoes.”
“We don’t want tires laying around and creating an opportunity to breed misquotes, we don’t want kids to play in them or get caught in them."
Skora said the county now has three collection points, where residents can bring in scrap tires, free of charge:
County Collection Center ~ 540 South Abbe Road, Elyria
Hours facility is open:
Mondays 12pm - 4pm
Wednesdays 12pm - 6pm
Saturdays 9am - 3pm
Lorain City Service Garage ~ 114 East 35th Street
Hours facility is open: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am - 1pm
Grafton Township Hall ~ 17109 Avon Belden Road
Hours facility is open: Tuesdays & Saturdays 9am - 1pm
