ST. LOUIS – Alderwoman Laura Keys (Ward 11) was stunned when she found 400 to 500 tires dumped in a vacant lot off North Grand Boulevard. She also discovered towering, six-foot piles of tires near O’Fallon Park.

This is becoming an environmental crisis, Keys said.

“The amount of fumes that this level of tires gives off is unhealthy and what is it doing to our ground as well? So, these are contaminants. This is an environmental waste site,” Keys said.

Residents reported seeing trucks with no license plates dumping tires in alleys, with one resident claiming to know who’s behind the illegal activity.

“They had a lot of tires over here last year. I called and they came out. I guess they got most of them up. Now, some more tires. You know it’s still a bunch of tires, which is a hazard,” resident Linda Mitchell said.

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Keys believes someone in the tire business is responsible.

“The retailers who are selling the tires are pocketing the recycling fee and not turning it over to whatever company would come to carry those tires away or it is the companies that are supposed to carry those tires away,” Keys said. “Somebody is benefiting financially from doing this, but this is hurting our city.”

Alderwoman Keys is working with north county municipalities facing similar issues and has organized tire amnesty days to help residents dispose of old tires for free. The next collection day is September 28, with three drop-off locations.

The three drop-off locations for September 28 are North Grand Blvd. and University Street, North Grand Boulevard and Carter Avenue, and Natural Bridge and Marcus Avenue.

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