Artist says 'tired ideas' cause Europe's pollution problems

A Hungarian artist is finding inspiration in unusual places. Gabor Barath is turning old car tires into sculptures, all in a bid to raise awareness about recycling.

"Many car owners don't know how to get rid of their old tires," says Barath. "Also, people don't realize the environmental harm caused by improper tire disposal. My sculptures serve as a visual reminder of this issue." 

Hungary recycles around 60 percent of its tires each year, but it still has a problem - many tires end up in forests and fields, scarring the natural environment. 

"For many years, people just discarded tires in our forests," says recycling specialist, Gabor File. "They would leave the tires anywhere they could, causing a serious problem."

Hungarians have started to change their ways over the last few years. They've recycled or repurposed nearly 60,000 tires since the country introduced a new collection system. 

"We've implemented a new system in Hungary, and it's slowly gaining acceptance," says File. "We've set up containers in various cities and are educating the public on the proper way to dispose of their used tires."

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Europe produced around 400 million tires last year. Experts say the vast majority end up in landfills or public spaces. Baráth is hoping to change that through his artwork. He's created hundreds of sculptures because he believes they force people to question their own behavior. 

But he also wants to offer a solution. "I've set up tire collection campaigns along the Danube River and in our forests," he says. "I think this will make a bigger impact."

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