PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Residents in Philadelphia’s Cobbs Creek neighborhood say illegal dumping has become a growing problem, with hundreds of tires left along streets and around the park in recent months.
The latest pile appeared on 57th Street on Monday morning, according to neighbors. Dozens of tires could be seen dumped along the side of the road.
Timothy Reimer, a volunteer who helps maintain Cobbs Creek Park, said residents have counted more than 500 illegally dumped tires in the area over the past several months.
Reimer said the problem became particularly noticeable during a monthly cleanup in March, when volunteers discovered a pile of at least 200 tires.
“It started just snowballing out of control from there,” Reimer said.
Just last week, Reimer said volunteers documented nine separate dumping incidents within roughly a two-block-by-two-block area, totaling 189 tires.
The tires are not the only items being illegally dumped, he said. Reimer said residents have found household debris, construction and landscaping waste, and items from eviction cleanouts.
They have also found unusual items, including animals.
“We’ve had animals dumped in the park,” Reimer said. “One time we found a crested gecko that somebody had dumped in its terrarium.”
During the summer, he said someone also dumped an entire cooler filled with meat.
But the growing number of tires has become a particular concern for residents, Reimer said, as dumping has spread from the park into surrounding neighborhoods.
“That just kind of makes me sad that people should have to wake up in the morning, open their door and look at the disrespect people have for their community,” he said.
Reimer said he has reported illegal dumping to the city through 311. He said the city has responded by removing reported piles, but new dumping continues.
“We’re finding anywhere from a dozen to 40 or 50 tires at a time,” Reimer said.
He attributed the dumping to auto shops trying to avoid recycling fees, though he did not provide evidence identifying specific businesses.
Reimer said he wants the city to take additional steps to identify those responsible.
“I would really like to see the city take proactive measures to find the people responsible,” he said.
The Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department said Monday that it recently received a grant to hire park ambassadors who will focus on illegal dumping in the area.
The ambassadors will conduct outreach and educate residents about proper disposal.
For enforcement, the city’s Streets Department has also installed cameras in an effort to identify people responsible for illegal dumping.
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