"We feel this is a perfect way for Del-Nat to contribute to our community, helping to beautify our city, and combating a health hazard by eliminating places—inside discarded tires—where mosquitoes can breed," said Jim Mayfield, president of Memphis-based Del-Nat.
"You could say we're completing the cycle, from delivering new tires to properly disposing the used ones."
The collected tires will be recycled by Pittsburgh-based Liberty Tire Recycling L.L.C., Del-Nat said.
The tire distributor/dealer co-op added that earlier this year it was honored by Recycle Solutions for its recycling efforts, including helping save the equivalent of 221 trees, 55 cubic yards of landfill space and 91,000 gallons of water through a program to recycle office and warehouse waste at its facility in South Memphis in 2012.
The information was provided in an annual sustainability report from Recycle Solutions, which stated Del-Nat's recycling program has kept more than 75 percent of potential waste out of local landfills.
The sustainability report advised that Del-Nat recycled four tons of plastic and 13 tons of paper from January 1 through December 31, 2012. In addition to the trees, landfill space and water, Del-Nat's recycling effort also saved the equivalent of 4,955 gallons of oil and 75,096 kilowatt hours of energy, according to the company.