County residents unload waste tires

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments finished the first of three waste tire collections last weekend in Maryville.

Through a collaboration between the council, the Solid Waste Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the effort collected thousands of tires on Saturday morning.

Funded through DNR grants, council Executive Director Tye Parsons said that the goal is keep waste tires out of ditches and landfills.

Residents of Nodaway County were able to properly dispose of all types of tires either for free or for the small charge for larger tires such as tractor tires.

Parsons said that the collections began in 1995 in Nodaway County and was sparked by county commissioners who were trying to find a way to keep waste tires out of ditches and landfills.

"They want to get them off of their property, too," Parsons said. "With this collection we can get rid of them for free, or next to free."

It has been two years since Nodaway County has held a collection, which became apparent as the line of citizens waiting to drop off their tires stretched far down the street.

Parsons said that the cost is roughly $19,500 for all three collections in the five-county area covered by the council.

The tires will be taken to Entire in Phelps City where they will be shredded to be used for various purposes. Close to four semi-truck trailers were filled after Saturday's collection in Maryville.

Collections will also be held in Albany on Sept. 15 and Phelps City on Sept. 22.