If you own a car or truck, you need to take care of the tires for that vehicle. You can’t drive your car without tires.

Tires are essential for getting around on a daily basis. However, what happens when good tires become unusable? Tires eventually wear out or get damaged and need to be replaced.

Ideally, all tires should be recycled or reconditioned for further use. Currently, about 83% of tires are recycled each year. Unfortunately, thousands of tires still end up in local landfills, contributing to environmental degradation. Some tires are also illegally dumped into creeks, wooded areas, or fields, creating environmental and health hazards. It’s crucial to dispose of tires properly to avoid breaking the law and causing harm to the environment.

On Saturday, November 16, Keep Liberty Beautiful is partnering with 104 Logistic LLC in Midway to hold a Tire Amnesty Day for Liberty County residents. This collective effort demonstrates our community’s commitment to keeping our environment clean and beautiful. By participating, you are not only contributing to a cleaner environment but also to the safety and health of our community. The event will be held at the Liberty County Community Complex, 9397 East Oglethorpe Hwy, Midway, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

• Tires generated from commercial ventures will not be accepted.

• We will only accept tires for cars, SUVs, and light trucks.

• Semi tires or larger and racing slicks will not be accepted.

• There will not be a fee for the tires turned in.

We often do not have a budget to provide free tire turn-in events. Still, occasionally, it helps to have an event like this to encourage local residents to turn in tires they may have lying around. Your participation is crucial.

We continue to look for grants to apply for to hold Tire Roundup events.

Because tires are breeding grounds for mosquitoes, it is best to dispose of them correctly. Tires are also attractive living areas for several local animals, like snakes. I do not like snakes or mosquitoes, so please turn in any of those unwanted tires.

Tires collected cannot be reconditioned with new tread but can be recycled and sent to companies that reprocess them.

This recycling process turns old tires into new materials, such as asphalt for roads or mulch for playgrounds, contributing to a more sustainable future. It’s a small step, but it’s a step towards a brighter opportunity for our community. So, I encourage you to bring in any tires around your home. Your small action can make a big difference. Once again, this is not an option for tires generated from commercial ventures. We will only accept tires from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 16. Any tires left in the vicinity before or after the event will be treated as an illegal dumping violation. The collection location will be under camera surveillance, so I encourage people to abide by these rules. Illegal dumping penalties are pretty severe. According to the Georgia Comprehensive Litter Prevention and Abatement Act of 2006, Code Section, it is a felony with a fine of up to $25,000 and a five-year prison term. So, if you are thinking about dumping tires, think twice. It’s not worth the risk.

So, Liberty County, start now, round up your tires, and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Your participation is not just crucial, it’s invaluable to this event’s success and our community’s health.

We value your contribution and look forward to seeing you at the event.

For more information about the Tire Amnesty Day, contact Keep Liberty Beautiful at (912) 8804888 or klcb@libertyountyga. gov. Also, you can visit the KLB website, www.keeplibertybeautiful. org, for more information on all our upcoming events, like Rivers Alive, which the countywide event will take place on October 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Lunch will be served at the Riceboro City Hall for all volunteers.

Keep Liberty Beautiful will provide all cleanup equipment, and you will receive a beautiful Rivers Alive T-shirt. You can sign up for this event at https://forms.gle/Tp5SoymYnBGsmFwk7