Copart Inc. on Thursday began clearing out shredded tires piled at the former Safe Tire Disposal Corp. facility at 11150 Applewhite Road that has posed a health and fire hazard on the South Side for well over a decade.

About 1.2 million tires on the site's 36 acres are considered a health and fire hazard. Copart, which bought the property last month, estimates that the tires will be removed by May or June, less than the 300 days allotted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

RELATED: Designs for proposed River Walk hotel approved

Removing the tires is expected to cost an estimated $2.8 million. Copart, which operates a neighboring property, plans to use the dump site to expand its vehicle storage and auction business.

Local Channel

Now Playing:
  • Now Playing
    Overnight in S.A. metro, Jan 17-18 San Antonio Express-News
  • Donors rally to support medical student’s widow, children San Antonio Express-News
  • San Antonio Boy Attempts Icy Stunt by Jumping on Slick Trampoline Storyful
  • Car drives off bridge near downtown S.A. during storm San Antonio Express-News
  • Woman in England surprised with tickets to see Rascal Flatts at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo San Antonio Express-News
  • San Antonio man records burglar breaking into home, shares over social Courtesy
  • San Antonio firefighters escape home engulfed in flames Saturday night Courtesy
  • Katy Perry turns South Texas girl into a star at recent S.A. show Courtesy
  • Area homeless combat the cold By Jacob Beltran, Staff Writer
  • SAPD makes arrest in 2015 'Hell's Gate' murder case San Antonio Express-News

The 1.2 million tires posed a fire hazard and served as a breeding ground for mosquitoes that can spread the Zika virus and other diseases.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 2016 listed the site as one of the five largest tire dumps in the state, of more than 100 that are known to exist.

Go here to read more about efforts to clean up the site.

Scott Huddleston is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | shuddleston@express-news.net | @shuddlestonSA