County schedules Free Tire Recycling Day for June 19
Residents of Ramona, Julian, Santa Ysabel and the surrounding unincorporated areas in San Diego County can bring used passenger and small truck tires to Ramona High School’s parking lot at 1401 Hanson Lane on Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Since the state banned disposal of whole tires at landfills in California in 1993, San Diego County has offered amnesty days and public education for tire recycling and disposal funded partially through state grants.
Recycled tires are used to make rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) often used in road construction and repaving. The RAC lasts longer and produces a quieter ride for vehicle traffic.
Illegally abandoned tires continue to be a problem on county roadways and throughout the rural areas of the county. Tires are an excellent breeding environment for mosquitoes, a known vector for West Nile virus, malaria and encephalitis. In addition, the threat of fire and further illegal dumping is a critical concern in the region.
“More registered drivers live in California than any other state, which generates more than 44 million tires,” said Pam Slater-Price, chair of the county’s board of supervisors. “Some of this waste ends up on the side of roads or in landfills. Recycling vehicle tires makes for a safe, clean and ‘green’ community.”
Residents may recycle up to nine tires per vehicle — reasonably clean and free of excessive dirt or other foreign matter. Inside tire diameter size is limited to 16.5 inches. Tires mounted on rims will not be accepted. No large truck tires and no tires from business or commercial sources will be accepted.
Call San Diego County Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste at 1-877-713-2784 for more information or to make arrangements for larger tires, tires with rims, or loads of more than nine tires.
This one-day event is sponsored by the county’s recycling program and a grant from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. Support for the event is also provided by Ramona Unified School District.