County residents dropped off 6.55 tons of large items – including 1,010 used tires – for proper disposal and recycling during a tire and large item collection event held March 14 at the Polk County Commerce Center in Livingston.
A total of 131 vehicles passed through the collection lines during the successful event hosted by Polk County with funding support from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) through a grant administered by the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG).
The event provided residents from throughout the county with a free and convenient opportunity to dispose of unwanted tires and large items – helping to reduce illegal dumping and environmental and health risks.
The effort was made possible through a partnership between the Polk County Environmental Enforcement Office, Precinct 4 Road & Bridge and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Six inmates, supervised by two deputies, assisted with unloading materials and loading them into trailers and dumpsters for proper disposal.
Event coordination was led by the Environmental Enforcement Office, with support from Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Cassity and his staff, who remained on-site throughout the day to ensure smooth operations.
Cassity and Precinct 3 Commissioner Milt Purvis contributed tires collected from their precinct barns, including oversized equipment tires, and played an active role in supporting event operations. Their involvement reflects a strong commitment to continued community cleanup efforts.
Event organizers noted that while turnout exceeded expectations, some residents had to be turned away from the large item line due to dumpsters reaching capacity early in the event. In response, the Environmental Enforcement Office and Precinct 4 Road & Bridge are exploring options to increase dumpster availability and improve disposal logistics for future events.
The success of the event demonstrates the value of regional collaboration and community engagement in protecting the environment. Polk County plans to build on this momentum and pursue additional funding opportunities to continue offering cleanup events for residents.
For more information, or to stay updated on future events, residents are encouraged to follow Polk County Environmental Enforcement, Polk County, TX, and Polk County Recycling & Beautification on Facebook or visit www.polktx.gov or www.pcrbtexas.org.
