Temple of Faith Ministries in Ellenwood is once again staring down a mountain of rubber after dumpers abandoned hundreds of tires on the church's property for the second time in recent weeks. Volunteers had just cleared a massive pile last week, only to arrive and find a fresh heap waiting for them. Church leaders say the repeat dumping is burning out volunteers and raising safety and access concerns for neighbors who rely on the property as a community space.
Camera Catches U-Haul In The Act
As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, surveillance footage obtained by the station appears to show a large U-Haul truck pulling onto the Ellenwood property, unloading, and leaving behind dozens of tires. The station's video reports that the piles add up to hundreds of tires and notes that the church had completed a cleanup only days before the truck allegedly returned.
Why The Tires Keep Coming Back
Disposal costs and a lack of convenient recycling options make scrap tires an easy target for illegal haulers, which helps explain why certain spots see recurring dumps. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division keeps a list of permitted tire carriers and recyclers that residents and businesses can use when arranging legal disposal instead of turning to cut-rate operators.
DeKalb Puts Big Money Behind Tire Cleanups
DeKalb County has rolled out a $250,000 initiative to tackle the worst illegal tire dump sites and reports that crews removed more than 37,000 illegally dumped tires during the recent push, according to DeKalb County. County officials say Code Compliance, sanitation and police are coordinating removal efforts and site inspections across affected neighborhoods to keep problem areas from getting out of control.
Crackdowns Have Brought Arrests Before
Enforcement is not just for show. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, DeKalb police arrested three people in June 2025 in connection with illegal tire dumping, a reminder that authorities will pursue charges when they can identify suspects. Police and county officials warn that repeat dumping can lead to misdemeanor or felony counts and that anyone who pays for or arranges illegal removals could also face prosecution.
How To Report It And Where The Church Needs Help
Church leaders are urging neighbors who might have dash-cam footage, descriptions or license plate numbers to contact law enforcement so investigators can chase down leads. DeKalb's Beautification Unit and Code Enforcement accept complaints by phone or online and recommend including vehicle details to speed up the response. The county's illegal-dumping page provides reporting contacts along with guidance for residents.
For now, Temple of Faith says volunteers will keep showing up with gloves and trash bags, but the congregation is pushing for a longer-term fix that stops the property from becoming a magnet for dumpers. Neighbors and officials say that cracking down on small crews and the companies moving scrap, along with improving access to legal disposal options, are likely the only ways to slow the steady tide of tires rolling onto this Ellenwood church's land.
