Illinois EPA wraps up massive waste tire and solid waste clean up in East Peoria

SPRINGFIELD  - The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, along with the city of East Peoria, has completed a significant cleanup in a residential area west of Cole Hollow Road and north of Vicic Street in East Peoria.  The effort involved the removal of used and waste tires as well as other solid waste and trash from a large ravine in the area.  The cleanup represented a cooperative effort between the Illinois EPA and East Peoria that resulted in the removal of a potentially serious health threat posed by the tires and solid waste. 

 

Since May 14, the Illinois EPA has removed 11.67 tons of waste tires and 41.55 tons of solid waste from the ravine, and arranged for proper disposal and shredding of the waste tires. 

 

Due to the mosquito-breeding habitat that waste tires provide, and the strong historical presence of mosquito-related diseases in the greater Peoria area, this was a particularly important cleanup to the community.  It was accomplished through a partnership between the State and the village of East Peoria. 

 

The village of East Peoria arranged for the recycling of scrap metal present at the site and covered the costs of the disposal of the other solid waste materials, while the Illinois EPA covered the cost of the tire removal and processing.  East Peoria officials also indicated that they will monitor the area to ensure that no further dumping occurs in the ravine.

 

Tires that are inappropriately disposed of retain standing water and serve as habitat for the larvae of disease-carrying mosquitoes.  In addition, waste tires may present a fire hazard that can contaminate the air, land and water.  Regardless of whether dumps are in rural or urban areas, they pose a risk to a large number of people, particularly children, the elderly, and those individuals with chronic respiratory conditions.

 

Used tires have recycling value.  Shredded tires are used for tire-derived fuel and crumb rubber used in the construction of all-weather running tracks, ground cover for playgrounds, and in the production of rubberized asphalt.