Illegally dumped tires are Jon Merryman’s sworn enemy — and in retirement, he’s made it his personal mission to clean up America’s mess, one ravine at a time.
Jason Nark reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Jon Merryman, a retired software designer, has removed over 15,000 tires from illegal dumps across the U.S., including creeks, ravines, and roadside ditches.
- His campaign began in 2008 and has since taken him to cleanup efforts in Maryland, Florida, South Carolina, and even South Korea — always armed with gloves, a vest, and his trash mascot, Sharkey D’Shark.
- Tire waste is a massive national problem: The U.S. discards 280 million tires annually, and many end up in illegal dumps or stockpiles that pose long-term environmental and health hazards.
Key quote:
“For some reason, they tick me off more than anything. I definitely hate tires.”
— Jon Merryman, retired software engineer and environmental cleanup volunteer
Why this matters:
Discarded tires are more than an eyesore. They leach toxic chemicals, attract disease-carrying mosquitoes, and can spark fires that release dangerous pollutants. Merryman’s story shows how one person’s persistence can chip away at a nationwide pollution crisis— even if it'll take policy to achieve lasting systemic change. Sometimes, though, all it takes is a guy with gloves and a little righteous anger to serve as the spark.
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