Austin Public Health Department, community partners to host Tire Take Back Day
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, Texas (FOX 7 Austin) - The City of Austin Public Health Department is encouraging residents to recycle their unwanted tires in the interest of reducing the mosquito population.
Tire Take Back Day is a free event sponsored by the health department, Austin Resource Recovery, Travis County and other community partners to decrease disease-carrying mosquitos that like to breed in discarded tires.
Residents will have the opportunity to recycle passenger tires without rims for free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at two drop-off locations: Austin Resource Recovery and the Great Hills Baptist Church. Tractor or commercial tires will not be accepted.
According to a release from the health department, water that collects inside one discarded tire can produce more than 10,000 adult mosquitos in a single breeding season.
As part of the event, the city will offer community education on mosquito control and prevention, as well as on diseases spread by mosquitos, including the West Nile and Zika viruses.