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

Keep Reading

DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson speaks at a press conference at the Manual J. Maloof building in Decatur on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Cochran-Johnson announced a freeze on creating new positions without approval and spending on "non-essential" items. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Featured

An aerial image shows the Atlanta skyline on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Miguel Martinez / AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez