Mosquito control experts say the most lethal disease-carrying mosquitos breed in containers like old tires in your yard.

  • Tire Amnesty program begins April 18 at Volusia County landfills
  • Tire disposal fees waived if you drop them off at the landfills
  • Helps fight mosquitos by getting rid of breeding grounds

That’s why Volusia County is making it easier for homeowners to dispose of their old tires by waiving fees they would normally pay at the landfill to drop them off.

That's welcomed news for Martin and Mandy Metzger, who live in a Daytona Beach neighborhood with a big mosquito population problem.

“It’s pretty bad, I mean, we go out every evening. We like to have out little cocktail hour and we can’t stay out there at dusk. If you’re out there 10 minutes, you’ll get bit four or five times,” said Mandy Metzger.

The Metzgers live just down the road from neighbors who have old tires sitting in their yards. Health officials say that tires are an ideal breeding ground for mosquitos.

Jim McNelly, director of Volusia Mosquito Control, says that although all containers can become potential breeding sites for mosquitos, tires collect water homeowners rarely check.

And the blood suckers coming out of tires can be lethal.

“The two mosquitos that are produced in containers are mosquitos that are ultimately, potentially, responsible for the Zika virus, transmission of Zika virus, Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus," said McNelly.

To take a bite out of the mosquito population, the county launched a tire amnesty program where this weekend, homeowners can take tires to several landfills for free.

Normally the fee starts at $4 and up, depending on the number of tires.

Metzger has a message for her neighbors who have tires laying outside their homes.

“Please remove them! We don’t like the mosquitos!” said Metzger.

McNelly says that while the Tire Amnesty program may not get rid of all the mosquitos, getting rid of one source can help.

The tire amnesty event starts April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Tomoka Landfill, 1990 Tomoka Farms Road, Port Orange
  • Robert Strickland Park, 1670 Strickland Range Road, Daytona Beach
  • Riverbreeze Park, 250 H.H. Burch Road, Oak Hill
  • Volusia County Fairgrounds, 3150 E. New York Ave., DeLand