FAST FACTS:
Council Chairman Harold Collins says plan will help reduce blight It is same plan already approved by Shelby County Commission Many used tire dealers say plan will help them
(Memphis 11/3/2009) Old tires never die. And they never leave either.
They just stay in Memphis, not fading away, just creating blight, and places for mosquitoes to breed, not to mention great rat holes. "We have an enormous amount of tires just dumped all over our community," says Memphis City Council Chairman Harold Collins. "We needed to do something."
The Memphis City Council approved a plan that they hope will get rid of these rubber mountains of Firestones and Goodyears. The plan will pay licensed individuals a dollar per tire taken to a city recycling spot. "We believe this is an opportunity for all in Memphis and Shelby County to participate," Collins says. "It also brings accountability to these people selling and hauling used tires all around this city."
Selling tires is a family tradition for the Chows. Ernest Chow has been in the business for more than 30 years down on South 3rd. His son Tony does the same thing at his own garage over on Lauderdale. They sell used tires, a business that's become more popular because of the high price of new tires.
The Chows say they have a mountain over tires at both of their shops. The trouble is...the tires aren't theirs. "People have been dumping them off on me for years," Ernest Chow says. His son Tony says it's just as bad at his place. "I guess around midnight, when I"m closed, they'll come and dump on the property," he says. "The majority of these tires aren't mine," Chow said as he looked over the pile next to his garage.
Both men, however, say they can't wait for the new law to go into effect. "When I get here in the morning once it starts," Tony Chow says, "...I won't have any more old tires out here. None at all, because everybody is going to be hustling."
Final details are being worked out on the plan.
Council Chairman Harold Collins says plan will help reduce blight It is same plan already approved by Shelby County Commission Many used tire dealers say plan will help them
(Memphis 11/3/2009) Old tires never die. And they never leave either.
They just stay in Memphis, not fading away, just creating blight, and places for mosquitoes to breed, not to mention great rat holes. "We have an enormous amount of tires just dumped all over our community," says Memphis City Council Chairman Harold Collins. "We needed to do something."
The Memphis City Council approved a plan that they hope will get rid of these rubber mountains of Firestones and Goodyears. The plan will pay licensed individuals a dollar per tire taken to a city recycling spot. "We believe this is an opportunity for all in Memphis and Shelby County to participate," Collins says. "It also brings accountability to these people selling and hauling used tires all around this city."
Selling tires is a family tradition for the Chows. Ernest Chow has been in the business for more than 30 years down on South 3rd. His son Tony does the same thing at his own garage over on Lauderdale. They sell used tires, a business that's become more popular because of the high price of new tires.
The Chows say they have a mountain over tires at both of their shops. The trouble is...the tires aren't theirs. "People have been dumping them off on me for years," Ernest Chow says. His son Tony says it's just as bad at his place. "I guess around midnight, when I"m closed, they'll come and dump on the property," he says. "The majority of these tires aren't mine," Chow said as he looked over the pile next to his garage.
Both men, however, say they can't wait for the new law to go into effect. "When I get here in the morning once it starts," Tony Chow says, "...I won't have any more old tires out here. None at all, because everybody is going to be hustling."
Final details are being worked out on the plan.
