MOULTRIE, Ga. — You know that stack of old car tires over in the corner of the garage or in the back yard that you don’t know how to discard? Well, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the state Environmental Protection Division, citizens of Colquitt County and its municipalities can legally get rid of them this Friday and Saturday.

Quite often motorists will notice where old tires have been dumped in roadside ditches. Sometimes landowners will find them piled in their woods and along dirt lanes leading into their fields. As well, occasional dark clouds of smoke have indicated that someone might have been burning tires. All of this is illegal and if caught, the violator can face criminal charges and stiff fines.

Since tires are non-degradable, they are considered an environmental concern if handled improperly. As well, they can be a health concern when they retain rainwater that allows mosquitos to breed.

“Essentially we will be collecting certain types of tires at no cost to the community,” said County Administrator Chas Cannon.

Not only will this grant assist this project but Cannon said the county plans to apply for these funds again.

“If we can get folks to just bring in their scrap tires instead of illegally dumping them or throwing them out along the rights of way, it might save them some tire recycling fees and at the same time improve the overall appearance of our county,” he said.

A flyer from the county’s Solid Waste Management Department asks that the tires be brought to the recycling center at 243 23rd St. N.E. between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 25-26.

The flyer said scrap tires may only consist of passenger, tractor trailer or front and rear farm tractor tires.

No heavy equipment tires, skidder tires, tires from retail dealers or tires from commercial scrap tire generators will be accepted, the flyer says.

Specifications for this event will be enforced and monitored by Colquitt County and the EPD. There will be no exceptions to the dates, times or types of tires accepted and no tires will be accepted at the county landfill at any time, the flyer further notes.

If anyone needs additional information on this project, contact Staci Griffin of the county’s Solid Waste Department at 229-616-7405.