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PORT ROYAL -- It's hard, sometimes, to keep our planet beautiful and healthy. Pollution is and has been an issue for years, and although it may seem near impossible to put an end to it, there are people taking strides to bettering our earth.
"I think it's important to really drive the message that taking the extra effort to recycle is important," explained Nicholas Smith, a Watershed Specialist and Recycling Coordinator at the Juniata County Conservation District. "If we want to keep the earth healthy, we need to make that effort now."
In 2013, Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, and Perry counties collaborated on an idea that would help contain the pollution problem as the landfills oftentimes fill up very quickly, with this in mind the counties as well as the non-profit organization Keep PA Beautiful, worked together to create the Tire Recycling Challenge.
County residents are invited to bring old scrap tires to the Juniata County Fairgrounds at 308 8th Street in Port Royal.
Collection fees include: $3 for car and truck tires, $6 for tractor trailer tires, and $25 for oversized tires (48" tall by 14" wide).
Scrap yards typically charge as well, but this is an opportunity to recycle your scrap tires for a lower price.
This challenge is partnered with Mahantango Enterprises, a recycling company that creates other rubber materials like rubber mulch, turf, and matting.
Mahantango sends trucks and trailers to the event and the scrapped tires are put in the trucks to be transported back to the company in Liverpool.
"Last year we filled two trucks full, this year we hope to get more," shared Smith.
All of this is made possible with the funding from the county itself as well as the Department of Environmental Protection and it is done to keep Pennsylvania beautiful
Smith added, "We need to keep recycling and find another purpose for materials that have served their 'one purpose' and keep landfills from filling up as quickly as they do.