Swampscott will be holding a tire collection event on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Department of Public Works Yard, at 200 Paradise Road.
Residents are welcome to drop off passenger vehicle tires without rims free of charge. Commercial truck tires will not be accepted. The event is in hopes of eliminating places for mosquitos to breed.
“Old tires that do not have rims and are sitting around your property most likely have water collected in them and have been a breeding spot for mosquitoes all summer long and will continue until the first hard frost,” Director of Public Health Jeffrey Vaughan told the Swampscott Tides.
Mosquitoes need water to lay eggs, Vaughan said. Some mosquitos like swamps or ponds while others prefer water collected in old tires, watering cans and flowerpots.
Most mosquito bites will only cause itching or skin irritation. However, some species found in Massachusetts carry viruses that can cause illness.
A mosquito in Swampscott had tested positive for West Nile Virus in August, and the town has since risen to a moderate risk level, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health.
West Nile Virus is most commonly transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become carriers of the virus after feeding on infected birds. Although West Nile Virus can affect people of all ages, those over 50 face a higher risk of severe illness.
In Massachusetts, about three dozen cities and towns – including Saugus, Revere, Worcester, and Boston – are currently listed as high risk by the Department of Public Health.
There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for West Nile Virus in humans.
“I feel this free drop-off event for Swampscott residents can help alleviate some problems now and for years to come by offering this opportunity to recycle their old car tires,” Vaughan said.
The DPW Yard will also be open for recycling, metal, styrofoam and tires on Friday, September 26, from 3 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday, September 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
