France backtracks over reefs made of tires

Tourists and film stars hitting the beach at the French Riviera resort of Cannes may be blissfully unaware, but lurking beneath the sparkling waves are tens of thousands of tires that were deliberately dropped into the sea to boost marine development.

Back in the 1960s, it seemed like the ultimate win-win idea: sink tires into the water and create artificial reefs, stimulate marine life, help the fishing industry and get rid of unwanted waste in one fell swoop.

But decades later and after millions of tires have been sent to the deep, authorities who are worried about pollution are starting to reverse the trend and haul them back.