Free tire collection event Saturday, April 18
Pinellas County is hosting a free tire collection event for residents on Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at four locations throughout the county. Pinellas County Mosquito Control, Solid Waste, Public Works and Parks and Conservation Resources are sponsoring this countywide event in a continued effort to reduce the spread of mosquitoes and mosquito-borne illnesses.
Tires are a common breeding location for mosquitoes. They can hold water, which provides mosquitoes with the perfect location to lay eggs and grow larvae.
“The tire collection event provides a convenient way for the public to help us reduce the mosquito population by getting rid of habitat they use to breed,” said Brian Lawton, Pinellas County vegetation management and mosquito control manager. “Reducing the population of adult mosquitoes also reduces the threat from mosquito-transmitted diseases such as Chikungunya, Dengue and Zika.”
Tires will be collected at the following locations:
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Eagle Lake Park, 1800 Keene Road
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Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th St. N.
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Palm Harbor: John Chesnut Sr. Park, 2200 East Lake Road S.
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Walsingham Park, 12615 102nd Ave. N.
This event is for Pinellas County residents only; proof of identification is required. No business drop-offs will be accepted. County residents will be able to bring up to 12 tires of 36 inches in diameter or less per customer. They will be accepted with or without rims.
The collected tires will be processed through Pinellas County Solid Waste’s Waste-to-Energy facility, which generates enough electricity to power approximately 45,000 homes a day. Additionally, metal from the tires will be recovered from the processed ash and recycled.
For more information, residents may call Pinellas County Mosquito Control at (727) 464-7503 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/resident/mosquito_control.htm.