MARQUETTE — Getting rid of old, worn out tires can be challenging — and expensive for most people. Of course, this is why so many end up in ditches, wetlands and at the bottom of waterways.

According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, scrap tires pose not only a fire risk and a human health risk as mosquito breeding grounds but contamination can leach into the ground from long-sitting tires.

While whole tires have been banned from Michigan landfills since 2004, the good news is that the 10 million tires generated each year in the state of Michigan are 100 percent recyclable. These tires can be turned into mulch, tire-derived fuel, incorporated into roads, shredded and used for aggregate in backfill and drain fields and some are even used to manufacture new tires and plastics, DEGLE reports.

Here are suggestions from DEGLE on what to do with your old, worn out, excess tires:

• Contact a tire recycler to processor. Find a listing at Michigan.gov/ScrapTires.

• Visit a local tire retailer. Many accept used tires for a small fee.

• Attend a scrap collection event. Some communities offer these gatherings on an annual basis.