Tacony family says someone illegally dumped dozens of tires on their block
PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) A Tacony family says someone dumped dozens of tires on their street. Now, they want to find whoever ditch all the tires.
Steve Ellingson says he found a mess right out back of his home in the city's Tacony section Thursday. He found the big pile of rotting tires dumped in broad daylight in the 5700 block of Josephine Street.
"This morning my wife was on the computer and she heard some noises in the alley. She went to the kitchen and looked out. She noticed a white pickup was driving away," he told FOX 29.
Ellingson says the mysterious white pickup truck disappeared down the block, when his wife investigated further she saw a 3-foot high pile of tires had been left behind.
"I couldn't believe how many tires. The picture she sent me at work looked like 10 or 20 maybe. It's gotta be at least 50 or more," he explained.
His wife called police to report the illegal dumping. He called the city's 311 line and he says police never responded to his home and he didn't exactly like what he heard from the 311 operator about cleaning them up.
"I'm still not sure if the city considers this is a street or an alley. If it's an alley that comes out of my pocket," Steve said.
Josephine Street runs behind the homes on Ditman. It's not a well traveled street. Some people park their cars there and there is a stop sign at each end of the block.
"When they change tires they charge you $6 fee per tire for disposal, then they go and dump these things. So they pocketed all that money," Steve explained.
According to Ellington, the neighborhood likes to keep the street clean.
The 311 operator told Ellingson she would file a report and hopefully by the end of the week, they would investigate and remove the tires. If Ellingson is forced to clean them up, he'll have to pick up the tab.