ST. LOUIS – Free gas for old tires! As FOX 2 exposes an epidemic of illegally dumped tires in St. Louis, an alderwoman turns to desperate measures.
The City of St. Louis is setting up three locations where people can drop off their old tires for free, no questions asked, on six separate “Tired of Tires, Tire Amnesty Days” between now and the end of the year.
Illegally dumped tires seem to be everywhere you turn in parts of the City of St. Louis: in alleys and parking lots, on sidewalks, even in the street.
The tires seem to be magnets for more trash.
“When people see areas that are unkept, it sends a signal that nobody cares,” Alderwoman Laura Keys, Ward 11, said. “If nobody cares, so what if I come and dump? Then we have people coming from surrounding counties and Illinois who are dumping.”
She’s spearheading the tire cleanup, which begins Saturday, June 29.
Large city dumpsters will be rolled out at three tire collection locations:
- North Grand Boulevard and University Street (Jeff-Vander-Lou)
- North Grand Boulevard and Carter Avenue (Fairground)
- Natural Bridge and Marcus avenues (Penrose)
A test run in September was a big success. Those turning in tires got a $5 gas card, per load. Alderwoman Keys was among those donating the gas cards out of her own pocket.
“I see that as reinvesting in your community,” she said. “One day, one Saturday, more than 3,000 tires collected. So, we’re hoping to duplicate that over and over and over again.”
Five more tire amnesty days are scheduled on the following days: July 27, August 31, September 28, October 26, and November 30.
“This is within our power to do. It’s within our power to have a cleaner city. It’s within our power to have a safer city,” Keys said.
As dumping laws continue to be ignored, the alderwoman said residents need to be relentless about keeping the streets clean.
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