BY TIM BURKE
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said its efforts to clean up scrap tires are showing success.
The DEQ's Sustainable Materials Management Unit is offering grants for removing used tires that have been stockpiled in Michigan. Spokesperson Rhonda Oyer said the department is pleased with the success of with the program.
"Back in 1991 when the scrap tire program came into effect, there were estimated to be about 31-million tires in stockpiles all around the state of Michigan. And since we've implemented this grant program we've gotten that number down to probably less than 500-thousand that are in these non-compliant stockpiles throughout the state."
Oyer said the department's biggest problem is people dumping used tires in urban areas. But, she said, illegal tire stockpiling continues to decline in Michigan.