Scrap Tire Reef

In the late 1950's to early 60's, using scrap tires to produce artificial reefs became an innovative idea to dispose of old tires while at the same helping the environment. By 1993, for example, scrap tires and other debris made up a 2.5 mile artificial reef along the coast of New Jersey. Southern State Correctional Facility inmates were put to work in constructing these tire reef units which could be anchored to the sea floor.

However, a 35-acre wasteland lies off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, littered with scrap tires which are not anchored. They were cast into the sea to lie wherever they might. Now, in order to save the environment, these tires must now be retrieved as they are rolling around in the currents, pounding against natural reefs and destroying them. A massive tire retrieval effort will begin in 2008. They estimate that it will take three years to retrieve approx. 700 tires per week.

Coastal America is the group that is trying to organize the cleanup.

As always, whatever we put into the sea must be carefully considered lest it become the proverbial mouse in the cookie jar.

Sources:

Dream of Artificial Reefs Becomes an Ecological Calamity by Peter Whoriskey, October 3, 2006

American City & County, Nov 1994 v109 n12 p63(10) by Barry Wise