The EGLE Scrap Tire Grant program provides vital funding to help local communities organize used tire collection events. In Gratiot County, this annual event is organized by the Gratiot Conservation District and takes place on the third Saturday in September. These sponsored programs allow residents to dispose of old, unwanted tires safely and legally at no cost, preventing illegal dumping in local woods and waterways. By clearing out these scrap tires, the community eliminates significant fire hazards and removes prime breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, which thrive in the stagnant water trapped inside abandoned tires.
Once collected, the tires are transported to licensed recycling facilities where they are processed and given a second life. The discarded rubber is shredded and transformed into useful raw materials, including rubber-modified asphalt for smoother roads, protective playground surfacing, and landscaping mulch. Supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, this event organized by the Gratiot Conservation District plays a crucial role in protecting public health, keeping neighborhoods clean, and promoting a sustainable environment.
Once collected, the tires are transported to licensed recycling facilities where they are processed and given a second life. The discarded rubber is shredded and transformed into useful raw materials, including rubber-modified asphalt for smoother roads, protective playground surfacing, and landscaping mulch. Supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, this event organized by the Gratiot Conservation District plays a crucial role in protecting public health, keeping neighborhoods clean, and promoting a sustainable environment.