PORT ROYAL — Old tires are the epitome of side-of-the-road refuse and trash. They’re unsightly and an environmental hazard, according to recycling experts and government officials, so finding ways to dispose of and recycle tires is a top priority at the Juniata County Conservation District.

“You usually see tires thrown over the side of the road,” said Nick Wilson, who serves as the recycling coordinator for the conservation district. “I think people are recognizing the need to clean these (areas) up.”

Wilson’s comments come on the heels of the conservation district’s Annual Tire Recycling Event for Juniata County residents on Saturday, Sept. 10. During the event, a total of 303 used tires were brought to the Juniata County Fairgrounds in Port Royal for recycling, ranging from bicycle tires to go-kart tires to oversized tractor tires.

“Last year, we had 700 used tries, and this year, we had 300,” Wilson added. “The number is lower, but hopefully that means we’re getting a lot more places cleaned up.”

The conservation district partnered with the Juniata High School FFA students, working together to help unload tires from residents’ vehicles and stack them inside a receiving trailer.

“We could not have done this without them,” Wilson said. “We can’t thank them enough to have to lift them off (resident vehicle) and put them on the trailer.

“Other athletic teams have helped us in the past,” Wilson added. “FFA was awesome.”

This marked the second year that FFA members had worked with the conservation district on the project.

Mahantango Enterprises Inc., of Liverpool, will repurpose the rubber into a multitude of new products including rubber mulch, play turf and much more.

Waste tires present environmental, health, and safety hazards. Rainwater accumulates in tire piles creating an ideal environment for mosquitoes, which are known to transmit West Nile Virus.

A massive tire fire under a major highway in Philadelphia cost millions of dollars in damage and affected commuters and businesses in the region over several months. Large tire piles can burn for weeks causing the rubber to decompose into oil, which can pollute ground and surface water.

Tire recycling and disposal programs in Pennsylvania have been moderately successful in recent years, with a significant increase in the collection and recycling of scrap tires leading to a reduction in illegal dumping and environmental pollution.

Pennsylvania monitors and regulates tire recycling and disposal activities through the Department of Environmental Protection. They require tire haulers, processors, and end-users to register with the DEP and follow specific guidelines for proper handling, storage, and disposal of tires. The DEP conducts inspections and enforces compliance with regulations to ensure environmentally sound management of waste tires.

Approximately 10% of used tires in Pennsylvania are currently being recycled or reused.

Pennsylvania ranks among the top states in the U.S. when it comes to tire recycling and disposal programs. The state has implemented various initiatives and regulations to promote tire recycling and proper disposal, leading to higher recycling rates compared to many other states.

“It’s a good sign to me that the numbers were lower this year,” Wilson said. “People are recycling their tires instead of leaving them stacked in their back yards or throwing them along the side of the road.

“Seeing that drastic change tells me we are making a big difference,” Wilson added.

The conservation district will hold its Annual Electronics Recycling Day at the end of April 2026, at the fairgrounds. Certain electronics, like desktop computers, keyboards and mice, printers and fax machines, laptops and cell phone and laptop batteries can be recycled for free. While others, like appliances, televisions and air conditioners, can be recycled for a fee.

If you have questions about tire recycling or other types of recycling, please reach out to Smith at nicholas-smith@juniataccd.org or (717) 997-8007.