Pasco County, FL (March 2, 2016) – The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) wants to help you get rid of old tires for free, while preventing the spread of Zika Virus – a flu-like disease spread through mosquito bites. Pasco County residents can bring unwanted tires to the Pasco County Class III Landfill / West Pasco Resource Recovery Facility at 14606 Hays Road in Spring Hill or to the East Pasco Transfer Station at 9626 Handcart Road in Dade City Sunday March 13th from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Zika Virus a public health emergency, and expects to see more cases in North America by the end of 2016. Zika Virus causes flu-like symptoms including body aches, chills, fever and vomiting. The Zika Virus is transmitted by mosquitoes that become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes then spread the virus by biting other people.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water that collects in places like old tires, which is why Pasco County is offering this free Tire Disposal Event to help keep your property mosquito-free. “We encourage Pasco County residents to take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of your unwanted tires,” said Pasco County Mosquito Control District Director Dennis Moore. “Used tires are an ideal habitat for mosquitoes to develop, especially the specific type that can potentially transmit Zika Virus.”

Pasco County residents with proof of residency can bring tires for free disposal to either solid waste facility. For more information call (813) 929-2755 or email cryburn@pascocountyfl.net. To eliminate the potential for breeding mosquitoes and to avoid mosquito bites, take the following preventive measures:

• Clothing: Cover up – wear socks and shoes, long pants, and long‐sleeved shirts.
• Drain: Water from garbage cans, gutters, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots, or any other containers where standing water has collected.
• Discard: Old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots, broken appliances, and other unused items.
• Empty and Clean: Birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least once a week.
• Protect: Boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain: The water balance (pool chemistry) of swimming pools. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use. Repair broken screens on windows, doors, porches, and patios.
• Repellent: Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing. Always use repellents according to the label.
• Travelers: After returning from international travel, wear mosquito repellent for at least two weeks.

The Tire Disposal Event is coordinated by Pasco County staff; John Power, Pasco County Solid Waste Director; Robert Sigmond, Pasco County Utilities Administration and Support Services

Director; Charles Ryburn, Pasco County Utilities Environmental/Hazardous Manager; and Kristen King, Keep Pasco Beautiful Coordinator. Additional partners for this initiative include the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Mosquito Control.

For more information on Keep Pasco Beautiful click on the following link: http://keeppascobeautiful.org/

For more information about solid waste in Pasco County: http://www.pascocountyfl.net/index.aspx?NID=186

For more information about hazardous waste in Pasco County: http://www.pascocountyfl.net/index.aspx?NID=183

For more information about mosquito control in Pasco County: http://www.pascomosquito.org/oldsite/index.htm