Niles Charter Township Code Enforcement  took advantage of a Berrien County grant Wednesday to rid itself of hundreds of old tires stockpiled on blighted properties.

Supervisor Jim Kidwell, one of five taking part in the morning clean-up operation, said Kachur Tree Service volunteered time and equipment to help transport about 250 tires to the Berrien County Road Commission on Napier in St. Joseph.

“We had so many tires sitting around on blighted properties, we couldn’t get them all. We really cleared out a lot of tires,” Kidwell said. “We wouldn’t have made the deadline without their help. We’ve probably got another 150 for when the grant comes up again in September.”

“It’s really a good deal” for municipalities to recycle rubber at no cost through Deerpath Recycling in Dowagiac.

Money the township saved can be applied to other blight enforcement issues, said Kidwell.