Buying a fixer-upper often comes with unexpected challenges, but Portland resident Khanh Tran never imagined his new property would become the site of what resembles a small tire landfill.
KATU reported that Tran purchased the 1.2-acre lot in southeast Portland earlier this year with plans to renovate the rundown property. When he first inspected the land, there were fewer than 40 discarded tires, which he had agreed to remove. A subsequent visit in late March showed little had changed.
However, when he returned on June 6 to begin construction work, he was confronted by a shocking sight. Huge piles of tires, stacked more than six feet high in places, covered much of the land and blocked access to several areas. According to Tran, the mountain of rubber appeared in less than 90 days.
“I didn’t know the disaster that was going to come with it,” he told local media.
Investigators Probe Massive Illegal Dumping Operation
The scale of the dumping has triggered investigations involving multiple agencies, including the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, county health officials and Metro, the regional government agency responsible for waste management.
Authorities are examining possible environmental violations and illegal dumping activities. Investigators are also looking into reports of trespassing after evidence emerged that at least one person had been living on the property without permission.
One section of the tire pile had even been arranged into a makeshift room complete with furniture, highlighting the unusual circumstances surrounding the site.
Officials say waste tires pose a serious environmental and public safety threat. Large tire piles can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and create significant fire hazards. Tire fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and can release toxic chemicals into the air and soil.
“The accumulation of waste tires presents a fire hazard and could violate Oregon’s waste tire regulations,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.
Suspicions Focus on Fake Recycling Scheme
Tran and nearby residents suspect the tires may have been collected under the guise of legitimate recycling operations before being dumped on the private property.
Neighbor Heather Harmon believes the activity has been taking place unnoticed, possibly during overnight hours or while residents are away.
“I’m worried about something catching on fire and spreading across into my yard and my property,” she said.
The theory is that individuals posing as tire recyclers collect used tires from businesses, charging disposal fees, only to dump the waste illegally instead of processing it properly. So far, no suspects have been publicly identified, and investigators have not confirmed whether such a scheme is responsible.
The case highlights a broader issue facing the Portland area. Metro officials revealed that their RID Patrol crews removed more than 14,000 illegally dumped tires from public land over the past year. Remarkably, 5,600 of those tires were collected during May alone, demonstrating how widespread the problem has become.
Cleanup Costs Could Leave Owner With Huge Bill
For Tran, the biggest question remains how to clear the enormous pile and how much it will cost.
Because the tires are located on private property, Metro’s cleanup crews are unable to remove them. County officials say they currently lack the resources to deal with a dump of this size, though they are exploring possible options if those responsible cannot be identified.
While property owners are generally responsible for cleanup, officials indicated they do not want to add to Tran’s financial burden and will consider his circumstances before imposing any penalties.
With a baby on the way and his renovation plans on hold, Tran has launched a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of raising enough money to restore the property.
Instead of beginning construction on his dream home, he now faces the daunting task of removing what has become a sea of rubber, one that nobody is willing to claim.