LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- Tire dumping is a growing problem across our region, and it can even have deadly consequences. But a neighborhood watch put the brakes on massive dumping on Friday.
Valley Station neighbors are fed up with people using their district as a dumping ground. Now they're turning to a new ordinance to help stop the problem.
As Metro Councilman Bob Henderson explains it as he points to a pile of tires, "Look back through there and see how much it is, I've got bunches like this." It's a sight that can be seen all over Louisville Metro Councilman Bob Henderson's Fourteenth District -- Valley Station.
"We've got so much rural area," Henderson says, "so they take advantage of that."
Friday morning, Henderson says he caught two men unloading a truckload of tires on some property off Old Dixie Highway. He says he was tipped off by Victoria Lane and her husband John, who live just across the street from it. They're part of the neighborhood watch.
Victoria Lane explains, "I seen the truck go back there with the tires loaded down." Lane says dumpers unload day and night, non-stop.
Councilman Henderson says, "You fight like heck to make your community clean, junk cars, get rid of it and you've got shysters like this from the other side of town bringing their stuff over here."
The tires aren't only eyesores, they're breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the West Nile virus." Pete Flood with the Waste Management District tells WDRB News, "With the hot weather we've had this summer and the West Nile virus becoming such an issue, tire dumping is really a high priority."
Flood says dumping is a big issue all over Metro Louisville. That's why he and other city officials are trying to stop dumpers with tighter penalties. Flood explains, "We are in the process of redoing other parts of our ordinance requiring used tire shops to be able to provide information upon request about their transfer of tires to a permitted waste tire transporter."
As for those accused of dumping these tires, Councilman Henderson says they were let go, but thanks to the new Louisville Metro dumping ordinance, the suspects' vehicle will be impounded and they will have to pay a fine.
Henderson says, "If you've got tires on your vehicle, don't stop in the 14th District and you don't need to stop in Louisville."
City officials say Cemex and Liberty Tires have offered to take the tires that were dumped Friday.
You can take a look at the new dumping ordinance by clicking here.
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