For more information, contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
DNREC’s next Scrap Tire Drop-off Day June 25 in Middletown
DOVER (June 17, 2011) – DNREC’s ongoing environmental drive to reduce and recycle old disused tires throughout Delaware travels to Middletown June 25 for the next Scrap Tire Drop-Off Day. The event takes place at DelDOT’s Area 9 maintenance yard from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.
Scrap Tire Drop-off Days provide Delaware residents with the opportunity to recycle scrap tires free of charge and help reduce the environmental and health hazards associated with scrap tires in our communities. Supervising the event is DNREC’s Scrap Tire Management Program, which was created to eliminate large, unsightly tire piles that can spawn fires resulting in toxic smoke along with an oily liquid runoff from melted tires that can potentially pollute ground water. In addition, tire piles provide the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, which can carry the West Nile virus.
DNREC’s previous five drop-off events have collected nearly 112 tons or 8,800 scrap tires for recycling, which prevents them from potential harm of the environment and from any hazard to human health – and from becoming a high-piled eyesore or taking up valuable space in the state’s landfills.
Delaware residents are invited to bring in for recycling up to 10 passenger or light duty truck tires per household at each Scrap Tire Drop-off Day. Larger tires, tires on rims, or bicycle tires cannot be accepted. Each person dropping off tires should be prepared to provide proof of residency by showing a Delaware driver’s license or utility bill. DelDOT’s Area 9 maintenance yard is located at 5369 Summit Bridge Road, Middletown. Signs will be posted.
The Delaware Scrap Tire Management Program, enacted on January 1, 2007, is funded by a state fee of $2 assessed on the sale of each new tire. The fee is diverted to the Scrap Tire Management Fund, a matching fund and program created to clean up existing scrap tire piles statewide.
For more information on the program and future scrap tire drop-off events, visit DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/whs/awm/Info/Pages/ScrapTire.aspx, or contact the Scrap Tire Management Program at 302-739-9403.
Vol. 41, No. 234
