Work began today clearing up the site of one of the largest old tire dumps in Texas, which has been known to locals as 'Mount Trashmore,' not far from the Toyota Plant on Applewhite Road, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
As many as 2 million tires are on the site, which was owned by a company called Safe Tire.
State Rep Tomas Uresti says its high time that the tire dump was out of there, because it is hazardous as well as hugely unsightly.
"The biggest concern, of course, is the standing water in the tires, that is a possible way of carrying Zika Virus.
Copart, Inc. purchased the property to expand its business which is right next door.
"This is going to be the revitalization of the entire neighborhood," he said. "We have to keep the area looking sharp for our citizens."
The Safe Tire site has been an eyesore for years. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says Copart has 300 days to get the tires removed, but Uresti says it will have the tires removed well before that deadline.
PHOTO; MIKE BOARD