City Prepares to Clean Up Illegal Tire Dump Near Philadelphia Airport

As of October 11th, 2025, the City of Philadelphia is preparing to address a growing issue of illegal tire dumping in a wooded area near the Northeast Philadelphia Airport. According to a concerned resident, Paul Kaplan of Morrell Park, this is the third time this year that tires have been illegally dumped in his neighborhood.

Aerial footage from Chopper 6 showed stacks of tires visible from Academy Road, with Kaplan stating that the dumpers often arrive "in the middle of the night," leaving truck tracks behind. The City's Office of Clean and Green Initiatives has acknowledged the problem, stating that they will be working to collect the tires in the upcoming weeks, though the "hidden perplex location" of the site will require additional coordination and equipment.

To address the ongoing issue of illegal dumping, the city is increasing the number of cameras at known dumping locations. Additionally, the city has issued over $1 million in fines for illegal dumping over the past two years, which costs the city approximately $2 million annually. North 10 Philadelphia, an organization focused on quality-of-life issues, has also launched a program offering residents $120 vouchers to dispose of trash legally through a partnership with Burns Recycling.

City officials plan to announce an illegal dumping task force in the coming weeks to strengthen enforcement efforts, and residents are urged to report any instances of illegal dumping by calling 311.