They’re probably one of the most visible eyesores to muck up the sides of rural roads and woodlands: scrap tires. Thanks to a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and some local elbow grease, old junk tires are not as plentiful today as they were last week in Union and Fayette townships.

The trustees in those two townships had their third scrap tire collection event in cooperation with the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District. SWMD Director Dan Palmer said more than 2,000 tires were collected in the two townships.

The OEPA provided the money and the transportation to haul the tires away. Local officials provided the manpower, along with assistance from Lawrence County Municipal Court workers and the trucks to collect the tires off the roadsides.

“This is a fantastic program and it never ends, given the vast amount of tires people dispose of illegally,” Palmer said. He estimated the grant was worth anywhere from $15,000-$20,000.

“It takes a lot of effort from each one of us but it’s worthwhile,” Union Township trustee Rick Gue said. “We have complaints of people still dumping tires and this is something we can do for the public.”

Both Gue and Fayette Township trustee Perry Brock praised the solid waste district for helping get the grant and organize the tire collection event.

“Solid waste does a very good job helping get money and we thank them for that and thank everyone who participated in it,” Brock said.