Officials remove 22 tons of used tires from 2 communities

HOPKINS PARK, Ill. (AP) - State environmental officials have removed about 22 tons of used tires from two northeastern Illinois communities

The Kankakee Daily Journal reports that Illinois Environmental Protection Agency collected the tires in Hopkins Park and Pembroke Township as part of a similar action that recycled nearly 600 tons of used tires from five northern Illinois counties.

State and local officials worked together.

Officials say the removal is part of a program to maintain healthy environments from public and abandoned properties. Old tires can attract disease-carrying insects, especially mosquitoes.

The tires are disposed of at a commercial used tire processing facility. Some are revamped and resold, while others are recycled for other uses.

The program is paid for by a tire fee that consumers pay when buying new tires.

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Information from: The Daily Journal, http://www.daily-journal.com