SAN ANTONIO -

Copart announced in that it has purchased San Antonio’s former Safe Tire Disposal Corp. facility at 11150 Applewhite Road with plans to clear the 36-acre property of over one million abandoned tires.

It was found that the site housed over one million tires following a 2014 state investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which received complaints from San Antonio residents that mosquitoes are coming from the property.

Copart said despite enforcement actions, the tire site has remained a problem over the years.

“Our new San Antonio property acquisition is a win-win for Copart and for the state of Texas,” Copart chief executive officer Jay Adair said in a news release. “Copart is pleased to be part of the solution to the tire disposal site. This is not just good business for Copart, it’s also good environmental stewardship. It’s the right thing to do.”

At the neighboring facility on 11130 Applewhite Road, Copart currently operates its San Antonio auction location.
Copart said after the remaining tires are cleared from the newly acquired property, it will expand its vehicle storage and auction operations onto the site.

“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality looks forward to partnering with Copart to remediate the tires at the former Safe Tire site in San Antonio,” added Richard Hyde, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. “The TCEQ, elected officials and local residents have worked to find solutions to the problem and welcome Copart as a good steward of our environment.”ind solutions to the problem and welcome Copart as a good steward of our environment.”