Discarded Tires: A Lovely Home for Mosquitoes

Perhaps the most defining image of pollution over the years has been one of a pile of old tires sitting down by the once-clean river. We've all seen them. Sometimes stacks sit on property, or they are tossed down an embankment, destined to rest there until the end of time.

Not only do these tires pollute the environment and look ugly, they are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Thousands of them.

Because of that, the (CMMCP) is making efforts to clean up discarded tires.

"Used tire casings left out in the environment and allowed to hold water provide suitable areas for larval mosquito development, including those species known to carry West Nile virus," it reads on the CMMCP website. "During the course of one season, the potential exists for hundreds or even thousands of mosquitoes to emerge from just one tire. If tires infested with mosquito eggs, larvae or pupae are transported, the potential to introduce mosquito species into new areas and/or the potential for the spread of arboviruses and their transmission may increase significantly."

According to Tim DesChamps, executive director of the CMMCP, many tire piles are found at abandoned building sites and empty lots, as well as secluded areas.

A map of areas that have discarded tires reveals that there are two sites in Westborough where tires sit, though some of this database is revised and has since been cleaned.

The CMMCP schedules pickups with the town for road and river cleanups and hazardous waste days but also will take calls from residents to add cleanup spots to its database. A pickup time is scheduled with the caller. Only passenger car and light truck tires, off-rim, are accepted.

"When we schedule a pickup, we call them in advance for them to bring it out to the curb," said Deschamps.

To report any abandoned used tires, or to schedule a pickup, visit here.

The CMMCP kicked off this program on Earth Day of 2010, and to date has recycled more than 6,000 tires, which is more than 60 tons.