Not many people in Sandy Springs seem to have scrap tires they need to dump.

In the past month, just 40 or so tires have been dropped off at the recycling center on Morgan Falls Road, office manager Jane Thernell said today.

Fulton County is collecting scrap tires to help reduce West Nile virus. The mosquitoes that spread the virus breed in water that can pool in discarded tires. People can avoid paying a recycling fee of up to $3 a tire by taking tires to a designated recycling center in north Fulton. The county is paying for the program with a grant from the state Environmental Protection Division.

Thernell said she's not seen much evidence that discarded tires are a problem in north Fulton. She figures most people are like her —- they pay the tire store to dispose of their worn-out tires.

"I've bought tires twice in the past year and just pay the disposal fee to get rid of them," Thernell said. "What earthly good would they do at home?"

The program runs through Saturday. The disposal locations are:

> Roswell Recycling Center, 11570 Maxwell Road.

> North Fulton Recycling Center, 470 Morgan Falls Road.

For more information, call the county's health department at 404-730-1301.