Marion County mosquito control program hosts tire recycling event

The Marion County Public Health Department’s Mosquito Control program hosts a Tire Recycle Day Saturday.

Marion County residents can bring up to six passenger vehicle tires to be recycled. Two drop off locations  – Marion County Public Health Department Mosquito Control, 4001 E. 21st St.; and Southeast Community Organization, 1925 Fletcher Ave. – will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The health department says unused tires can collect water and become an ideal place for mosquitoes to breed. But any standing water can be a problem.

“We encourage residents to take a few minutes each week to walk around their yard or property and look for areas of standing water,” Matt Sinsko, coordinator of Mosquito Control at the Marion County Public Health Department said. “Dump water from containers of any size and flush out bird baths frequently. Also, check for clogged gutters, small recreational pools, and poorly operating septic systems.”

In addition to removing standing water, the health department encourages everyone to take these precautions to avoid bites as mosquito season ramps up:

• Stay indoors from dusk until dawn. If you do spend time outdoors….
• If you do spend time outdoors after dusk, wear long sleeves and long pants.
• Use insect repellent containing DEET or other FDA-approved active ingredients.
• Remove all standing water outside the home.

For more information about Tire Recycle Day, call Marion County Public Health Department Mosquito Control at (317) 221-7440.