Kent County residents can dispose up to 10 passenger tires for free in Rockford and Byron Center, Oct. 15-18, 2019
The Kent County Department of Public Works (DPW) announced community members can safely dispose up to 10 passenger tires for free at either the North Kent Recycling & Waste Center in Rockford and South Kent Recycling & Waste Center in Byron Center. Kent County residents can bring their old tires to either facility during normal business hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Oct. 15-18.
“Whole tires are notoriously difficult to get rid of because they are not accepted by trash pick-up and cannot be disposed in a landfill unless they are shredded,” said Dar Baas, director of the Kent County Department of Public Works. “We encourage Kent County residents to take advantage of this opportunity to properly dispose of old tires.”
The free tire disposal is made possible by a grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Tire disposal normally costs between $4-6 per tire. All the collected tires will be sent to a facility that will process and recycle them into new products.
The free tire disposal comes at a time when the Kent County Health Department is encouraging residents to protect themselves against mosquito bites due to the recent Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) outbreak, a virus that can lead to seizures, coma or even death. Old tires with standing water are a potential mosquito breeding ground. As of Sept 26, 2019, there were 9 human cases of EEE within six counties in Michigan, including Kent County.
Details:
Kent County Department of Public Works is hosting a free tire collection at our North Kent Waste & Recycling Center (2908 10 Mile Rd. NE Rockford, MI) and South Kent Waste & Recycling Center (10300 South Kent Dr. SW Byron Center, MI 49315).
* Event is Tuesday, October 15 – Friday, October 18 from 7:30am – 4:30pm (after this date we will still accept tires at these locations but fees will be reinstated)
* Passenger tires only (up to 42″ — cars, vans, trucks) — NO oversize tires (over 42″ — tractor, semi, loader)
* Tires DO NOT need to be cut in half
* All tires should be taken OFF the rim
* 10 tire maximum per household
* Residents only – no businesses
* Must be a Kent County resident
Typically tire recycling at these facilities has an associated fee, however we are have received a grant from MI Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy (formerly the MI Dept. of Environmental Quality) that allows us to cover the cost of collecting and recycling these tires for this event.
If you can’t make it to this event please visit North Kent Waste & Recycling Center or South Kent Waste & Recycling Center for information on routine tire disposal at those locations.
For additional information, please call 616.632.7920.
