Fish off the coast of Florida are finding an artificial tire reef placed there uninhabitable. The reef, once thought to be a conscientious disposal of used tires, has proven to be a bane on marine life and beachgoers. From the Waste Business Journal newsroom:

An artificial reef of used tires created in 1972 off Fort Lauderdale, Fla. has become an ecological disaster. Tires frequently wash up on beaches and become wedged under natural coral reefs, killing the coral. Coastal America, a conservation group, is coordinating a cleanup where Navy divers will to retrieve the tires as part of their training and Broward County will manage their disposal. "We've literally dumped millions of tires in our oceans," said Jack Sobel, a senior marine scientist. "I believe that people who were behind the artificial tire reef promotions actually were well intentioned and thought they were doing the right thing. In hindsight, we now realize that we made a mistake."

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What You Can Do:

• Learn more about CAW-supported methods of safe tire disposal.
• Dispose of your tires and our household waste with our Living Green's RecycleIt Quick Link.

The city of Trinidad (Humboldt County) may be small population-wise, but hopes to make a dent when it comes to having sound recycling policies enacted within the city. Two new proposed policies to be heard at this week's city council meeting include one to recycle old tires to use as pavers. Another is to create a recycled content purchasing policy for the city. Jessie Faulkner of The Times-Standard reports.

TRINIDAD -- Councilman Chi-Wei Lin wants to include old tires in the new Senior Park, part of the complex behind the Chevron Station.

Those tires, however, won't be transformed into planters or used for children's swings; they've taken on a new life as rubber pavers -- flat, 1.8-inch-thick squares and rectangles in various sizes, designed to soften the walkways for elders who will use the park.

The Councilman is seeking permission from the council at its meeting on Wednesday to submit a grant application to the California EPA Tire-Derived-Products program for funds to purchase the material.

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What You Can Do:

• LEARN more about tire management from the CA Integrated Waste Management Board. 
• DISCOVER you county's recycling policies.

Status.
Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 369 on September 18, 2006.