Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

Lilburn cleans up more than 3,000 illegally dumped tires

Lilburn officials, with the help of private property owners, cleaned up up more than 3,000 illegally dumped tires behind Lilburn Market Center. (Courtesy City of Lilburn)
Lilburn officials, with the help of private property owners, cleaned up up more than 3,000 illegally dumped tires behind Lilburn Market Center. (Courtesy City of Lilburn)
By Tyler Wilkins
July 22, 2021

Lilburn officials worked with private property owners to remove more than 3,000 tires dumped behind a shopping center.

It cost the Gwinnett city about $12,000 to move the tires behind Lilburn Market Center off Lawrenceville Highway. A program under Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division will reimburse the city for the costs.

Scrap tires can cause environmental issues when pests turn them into breeding grounds and chemicals contaminate soil. The discarded rubber also poses a fire threat.

The city contracted with Latham Sanitation to complete the cleanup, which occurred over the course of several days. The tires will be processed by Liberty Tire Recycling.

Lilburn officials arrested the perpetrators during an undercover operation before the cleanup began, said Jenny Simpkins, assistant city manager, in an email. It’s unclear how long the illegal dumping had occurred, she said.

About the Author

Tyler Wilkins is a local news reporter covering the cities of Gwinnett County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He's particularly interested in explaining how local government institutions impact the residents they serve. He is a Georgia native and graduate of the University of Georgia.

Follow Tyler Wilkins on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC | Source: Ben Hendren for AJC, Getty, Handouts)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

Meet the candidates challenging Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

Atlanta’s mayors have a long history of winning a second term in office, but three political newcomers decided to launch bids despite tall odds.

Joro spiders multiply across Georgia, spinning their pesky webs

The invasive species has multiplied rapidly in Atlanta in the last three years, research shows.

2h ago

A Braves fan took a ball to the face. The team may be liable, judges say.

The Atlanta Braves and former right fielder Jorge Soler face a lawsuit by a fan hit in the eye with a ball during a World Series game at Truist Park in 2021.

The Latest

A female Joro spider at a residence in Athens. (UGA’s Odum School of Ecology)

Credit: Dorothy Kozlowski

Joro spiders multiply across Georgia, spinning their pesky webs

2h ago

A Braves fan took a ball to the face. The team may be liable, judges say.

Meet the candidates challenging Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

Featured

Delta employees are under investigation because of content “related to the recent murder of activist Charlie Kirk” that “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate,” CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a companywide memo Friday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez

Delta suspends employees for social posts related to Charlie Kirk’s killing

Delta joins a list of employers, including an NFL team and news network MSNBC, that have punished employees for posting inflammatory comments about Kirk’s death.

As Tech, UGA celebrate, a historic first for state’s Division I teams

All seven of the state's FBS and FBC teams — Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Mercer and West Georgia — prevailed Saturday.

Suspect arrested after North Georgia officer shot in line of duty

Capt. Brantley Worley remains in critical condition after incident in McCaysville, which is near the Georgia-Tennessee border.