Home becomes dumping site for tires

LEHIGH ACRES, FL--From the street it looks like a grand, Lehigh Acres dream. But a closer look reveals the 2 story, 3 car garage house has already become home to what happens when construction stops and the economy goes down the tubes.

"All back there, it's about waist high in tires," says Dale Nottingham of Lee County Pollution Prevention.

Hundreds of used rubber car tires---dumped in a once, vacant garage.

The tires are not just in the garage, take a peak inside the home, and you can see rooms filled waist-high with old tires.

Nottingham has witnessed a lot of illegal tire dumping in his 20 years...but this is a first.

"This is one that's unique because they did go to this abandoned house and use it for their final disposal method," Nottingham says.

He believes the culprit is a car dealer-- or a recycler who pocketed disposal fees.

"In an economic downturn they're looking for ways to cut and that's one way to cut, dump your tires some place else and you can  keep the tax you charge consumers when they bought new tires," Nottingham says.

The site is much more than an illegal dumping scene-- rubber tires are a fire hazard and neighbors want them gone.

It's a curious case-- one that has the sheriff's office and the state department of environmental protection trying find out who's responsible for the house of tires.

Reported by:  Katie Lagrone/WBBH