A Little Mud on the Tires

By: Claire Tribble

Lukas Bartlett Geiger, a thirteen-year-old student from West Limestone, has gone above and beyond to serve his community. His grandfather, Byron Geiger, took him to a spot at the Elk River that was safely accessible and in what is now apparent, desperate need of attention. Not only did he take a day of his weekend to help Limestone County, but he also initiated the project. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate this young man and his dedication.

Since the river had receded, Lukas took the initiative to muck out as far as he could to remove tires that were once submerged. Going as far as he could, he pulled 28 mud-filled tires from the Baker Hill Rd. side of the Elk River. I’m sure you know how heavy a tire is on its own, so imagine adding the extra weight from the mud. Lukas drug each of the tires up the embankment to the side of the road for District 4 Commissioner LaDon Townsend to pick up.

Commissioner Townsend loaded the tires from the side of the road and took them back to the District 4 Tool Shed. Why did he do this? Because thanks to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s Scrap Tire Program Limestone County residents can take up to 4 (regular car or truck tires) at a time to a District Tool Shed to be recycled for FREE. That’s 28 times when someone chose to throw a tire in that area of the river instead of dropping it where it could be properly recycled without costing a dime to them. And let’s all be honest; we know there are probably hundreds more out there.

It’s important to understand the toxicity of tires and the effects they have on the environment. Tires are a major source of microplastics, which are a component of urban stormwater runoff. According to a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts and Systemiq, more than three-quarters of microplastics entering the ocean come from tires. That means these chemicals are also found in fish and other animals that we consume. Think about that… we consume chemicals like benzene, toluene, and arsenic that leak from these worn down tires. These chemicals can cause more specific health problems, such as cancer, cognitive dysfunction, and organ failure. I don’t know if Lukas knew this when he embarked on his mission or not but knowing this makes me even more appreciative of his hard work.

When I made a Facebook post to brag about Lukas, it spread like wildfire. Josh Hopper from JH Performance Lawn care, Maintenance & Pressure washing reached out to reward him for his outstanding volunteer work. I don’t know what the reward was, but I am thankful that a Limestone County business was able to reach out to acknowledge Lukas and his mission. We hope more people are inspired to help improve our community and environment. We are beaming with pride that this young man worked so hard for our community, and we hope it inspires you as much as it has us. If you happen to know him or his family, be sure to say thank you!

By: Claire Tribble – Executive Director, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful