# Florida still cleaning up millions of tyres dumped off coast 50 years ago 2026-08-08T20:46:54+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Florida continues to clean up the Osborne Tire Reef, an underwater field of millions of used tyres dumped off Broward County in the 1970s to create an artificial reef. The tyres have scattered across more than 6,000 acres, damaging the coral they were meant to help. A 2024 survey found about 521,000 tyres remain in the area, with up to 92,000 in contact with coral reef. The dumping was approved by state officials and the US Army Corps of Engineers based on 1960s recommendations that tyres were cheap and easy to use for reef construction. Storms broke the bundles apart, spreading the tyres beyond the original footprint. The state's restoration plan, mandated by the 2023 Legislature, estimates the cleanup will take 14 years and cost about $137 million. Divers must relocate stony coral growing on tyres before removal. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: coral reef damage, environmental cleanup, Florida, marine pollution, Osborne Tire Reef, tyre dumping Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/florida-still-cleaning-up-millions-of-tyres-dumped-off-coast-50-years-ago/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/florida-still-cleaning-up-millions-of-tyres-dumped-off-coast-50-years-ago/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.