Vigo County’s tire amnesty program fills a 53-foot trailer; vector control readies for summer season

Vector Control staff reported they have started the annual tire amnesty collection and already filled a 53-foot trailer, with more collections expected; staff said the program reduces mosquito breeding habitat and has run for roughly 20 years.

Mike Regulus, Vector Control supervisor, said the department finished equipment maintenance and calibration for the season, ordered chemicals and began a month-long tire amnesty program. “This year the one trailer we've already filled is a 53 foot semi,” he said, and noted the county typically moves about 1,000 tires per trailer in a season. Regulus said partnerships with city code enforcement and the solid waste district have helped increase collection capacity.

Regulus said the county uses an iDIM-certified hauler and recycler to process tires into products such as playground mats and industrial mats, and he said the program had won awards and been presented at national venues. He noted the amnesty reduced community mosquito habitats and that participation appears to be declining over the long run — an intended effect if the program removes tires from the community.

Why it matters: Removing scrap tires reduces mosquito breeding habitat and can reduce vector-borne disease risks; the program also recovers material for recycling. The county’s program is a recurring public-health and environmental initiative with multiagency coordination and a measurable removal record over decades.

No board vote was required; Vector Control staff said they will continue the month-long program and monitor participation.