Bredesen Announces Waste Tire Cleanup Grant for Hickman County
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 | 04:16am
Grant Will Fund Tire Removal on Highway 230 in Lyles
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke today announced a Waste Tire Cleanup Grant of $115,000 for Hickman County. This grant will fund the cleanup of tires illegally dumped along Highway 230 in Lyles.
“This grant will help Hickman County clean up used tires that have created a blight on the community’s scenic landscape,” Bredesen said. “I’m pleased we have a mechanism to apply funding from tire pre-disposal fees to assist with cleaning up unsightly and potentially hazardous illegal tire dumps like this one.”
The site in Hickman County consists of approximately 10,000 tires. The Waste Tire Cleanup Grant will help Hickman County remove the tires from the site and dispose of them properly.
“Used tire dumps can pose significant health and environmental hazards,” said Fyke. “We’re pleased to work with Hickman County to get this site cleaned up.”
Whole tires provide habitats for rodents and mosquitoes, making them breeding grounds for disease. When burned, tires emit oxygen that constantly feeds the fire and noxious smoke that pollutes the air. Burning tires also release oils and soot that can contaminate both surface and ground water.
Senator Doug Jackson and Representatives David Shepard and John Tidwell represent Hickman County in the Tennessee General Assembly.
“This grant will go a long way toward improving the landscape and eliminating the risk these tires pose to the public,” said Jackson.
“I hope that by publicizing the risks and expense these sites pose, it will make people think twice before illegally dumping in the future,” added Shepard.
Waste Tire Cleanup Grants are administered by Environment and Conservation through the Solid Waste Management Fund. The Fund is comprised of tipping fee surcharges at Tennessee landfills and tire pre-disposal fees. For more information, please visit the department’s Web site at: www.tn.gov/environment/swm/grants/wtcgrant.shtml
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