The Van Buren Conservation District has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the state to hold tire recycling events throughout the coming year.
The grant was one of more than $1.1 million in tire recycling grants announced Wednesday by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Van Buren Conservation District recycling coordinator Kalli Marshall tells us the group received the funds on behalf of not only Van Buren County, but also Berrien, Allegan, Branch, and Kalamazoo counties. The program makes a difference.
“Annually, we in Van Buren County alone pull in about 15,000 tires,” Marshall said.
Each county handles its own tire recycling events, and Marshall says plenty is coming up in Van Buren.
“We just hosted our first event last week in the city of Hartford. Going forward, we’re going to host our three recycle roundup events on Saturday, June 7 in Paw Paw, Saturday, August 2 in South Haven, and Saturday, October 18 in Lawrence.”
Plus, Marshall says the Van Buren Conservation District operates ten year-round tire drop off sites. They’re listed on the district’s website.
The state says it supports tire recycling programs because improperly dumped scrap tires pose a fire hazard and create mosquito breeding grounds. Also, recycled scrap tires can be used in asphalt to pave roads, as mulch in gardens and playgrounds, and in manufacturing.
