Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s local affiliates Keep Cambria County Beautiful, Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful, Keep Juniata County Beautiful, PA CleanWays of Mifflin County and Keep Perry County Beautiful will be offering their residents a convenient and affordable option for disposing of their scrap tires.

Cambria County will also be accepting Freon containing and non-Freon containing appliances.

These collections are sponsored in part by the Department of Environmental Protection’s HHW/Small Business Hazardous Waste Collection Program.

Tires that are improperly disposed leach toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water and provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of West Nile Virus and Zika Virus.

Tire piles are also in danger of catching fire. Tire fires are known for being difficult to extinguish and create an abundance of smoke that carries toxic chemicals from the breakdown of synthetic rubber compounds, contributing to air pollution.

All tires collected will be recycled into products such as mulch, turf, molded products and crumb rubber.  

Similarly, dumped appliances can leach oil, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, also contaminating soil and water. In addition, abandoned appliances cause unsafe conditions for children, pets and wildlife as they can become trapped inside.

“Special collections, such as the ones coordinated by our affiliates provide a convenient, low cost option for local residents. The tires and appliances that are collected at these events won’t end up over the hill where they would become an environmental contaminant and be difficult and costly to remove,” said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.  “I applaud local residents who seek out opportunities to dispose of their bulky items properly and our affiliates for providing this service to their communities.”

Scheduled collections are for county residents. Tires from businesses will not be accepted.

Event Schedule

-- Keep Cambria County Beautiful (tires/appliances): September 11, 8AM-1PM - Adams Township, 125 Mary Drive, Sidman; September 25, 8AM-1PM -  Tunnelhill Borough, 808 Portage St., Gallitzin. For information call 814-472-2120.

-- Keep Huntingdon County Beautiful (tires) - September 18, 8AM-12PM, Huntingdon County Fairgrounds parking lot, Huntingdon. For information call 814-627-1626 x3021.

-- Keep Juniata County Beautiful (tires) - September 25, 8AM-12PM – Juniata County Fairgrounds, 308 8th Street, Port Royal. For information call 717-436-8953 x5. 

-- PA CleanWays of Mifflin County (tires) - September 18, 8AM-12PM, Lewistown Borough Public Works facility, Lewistown. For information call 717-899-6701.

-- Keep Perry County Beautiful (tires) – September 18, 8AM-12PM, Loysville Community Center and Ball Field, Loysville. For information call 717-582-5138.

To find a collection near you, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Calendar of Events webpage or contact your local county affiliate for more information about proper disposal.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website. Click Here to become a member.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Discover them on Pinterest and visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

The 2021 Pick Up Pennsylvania Fall Initiative will be held from September 1 through November 30.  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

NewsClips:

-- WBTimes: Wilkes-Barre To Hold Electronics Recycling Dropoff Oct. 25 & 28

-- WESA: Pittsburgh Mayor Announces Crackdown On Illegal Dumping In Pittsburgh

-- WPost: Can The Appalachian Trail Survive Its Pandemic Popularity?

Related Articles:

-- Gov. Wolf:  Urges Public To Stop Costly, Unsightly Practice Of Littering, Illegal Dumping

-- PA Resources Council: Household Chemical Collection Event Sept. 11 In Allegheny County

[Posted: August 25, 2021]

8/30/2021