The grounds of Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in south DeKalb now come with an unwanted landmark: a sprawling pile of discarded tires that church leaders say is both an environmental nightmare and a serious fire risk. Hundreds of tires have been dumped on church-owned land just off Glenwood Road, pushing the congregation into crisis mode as it scrambles for cleanup help and extra security. Neighbors say it is the latest sign of a wider dumping problem that county officials are struggling to get ahead of.
Pastor Sounds Alarm As County Tallies Tens Of Thousands Of Tires
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the heap sits squarely on property owned by Greater Piney Grove and is made up of hundreds of tossed-out tires that church leaders describe as a significant environmental and fire hazard. In a county press release, DeKalb officials said they have removed or caused to be removed more than 37,000 illegally dumped tires across the county, a number they point to as evidence that the problem stretches far beyond a single church parking lot.
County Cleanup Campaign Targets Worst Dump Sites
DeKalb launched a $250,000 cleanup initiative in December to go after its worst tire dumps, an effort local reporting said has already cleared several hotspots and led to a handful of enforcement actions. The Champion reported that the county plan zeroes in on eight priority locations and is paired with a push from officials for stronger state penalties aimed at large-scale dumpers.
Historic Church Cemetery Hit As Dumpers Target Sacred Ground
Other congregations have been hit in recent weeks, turning churchyards into unofficial dumping grounds. Earlier this month, hundreds of commercial tires were left on the property of Pleasant Hill Victory AME Church, where nearly century-old cemetery headstones were damaged and congregants started a fundraising campaign to repair the gravesites, according to WALB.
DeKalb's sanitation and beautification units are urging residents to report illegal dumping to 311 or by email at [email protected], contact information included in the county announcement; see DeKalb County for details. Church leaders say they plan to keep pressing officials for leads, while asking the broader community to help them clear the tires and repair the damage left behind.
