13+ tons of tires removed from wetlands

About 13 tons of tires were removed from a wetlands area in New Milford last week in a clean-up effort that brought together students, businesses and agencies.

DTE Energy, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and Blue Ridge Honor Society members worked together to pull over 350 tires from a legacy dumpsite in New Milford

Palmira Miller of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) said Blue Ridge Honor Society students started to clean the legacy dumpsite last year – removing 150 tires at that time – but wanted to return to complete the job this year.

Last Tuesday, PEC and the students were aided in their wetlands work by volunteers from DTE Energy. DTE Energy also funded the project.

Tompkins Enterprises provided equipment, said PEC’s Palmira Miller, and assistance was also provided by New Milford Hardware. Green Gables Restaurant served up lunch for the 48-plus volunteers.

Blue Ridge Honor Society students wade through a wetlands to remove tires.

Miller said the workers pulled out 350 tires from the area.

Orion Strategies Brittany Ramos said, “It really is a wetlands area. The students just really embraced it. It’s obvious they do care about the area.”

Ramos, who was also on the scene last week, said, “When I first saw the location I could maybe see 10 to 15 tires.” She added that she was amazed that upon closer inspection the number that had been discarded in the area.

The students waded into the less deep areas and pulled out what they could by hand. DTE Energy volunteers handled the deeper area where equipment was needed to pull the tires.

Miller said that while the area is no longer believed to be an active dumpsite, cleaning up the site is important.

“It’s important because of West Nile Virus and to address contamination of the waterways,” Miller said.

The cleaned up wetlands will “provide a better environment for wildlife,” she added.

Combining last year’s work with this year’s, Miller estimates around 15 tons of tires have been removed from the site.